June 21, 2007

Last night, the Senate passed the amended version of the SHU Bill. We are very helpful that the Assembly will do the same today. With this being the final day of legislative session, we have to ensure that we get as many phone calls as possible to the Assembly and the Governor’s Office.

Your call will make a difference!!

BOOT THE SHU!

STOP USING SOLITARY CONFINEMENT TO PUNISH INMATES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS!

"SHU" stands for Special Housing Unit, a euphemism for 23-hour/day solitary confinement. It's more appropriately called "the box." It's the worst place to keep inmates with mental illness. They are three times as likely to commit suicide as the general prison population. Their illnesses make the box a cruel and terrifying experience.

Please help us ban the use of solitary confinement to punish inmates with mental illness by contacting Governor Spitzer and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

Tell them:

"I support the SHU Bill (S.333A/A.4870B), which will prevent people with psychiatric disabilities from being placed in solitary confinement in New York State prisons. This bill is a cost effective, life saving measure that will end the needless suffering of inmates. I urge you to support the passage of S.333A/A.4870B!"

To contact Governor Spitzer, go to (518) 474—8390 or http://161.11.121.121/govemail

To contact Speaker Silver, call 518-455-3791.

Thank you for helping us BOOT THE SHU!