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pss12 · #1 05-25-2012, 11:53 PM

My baby called me yesterday very upset. He found some nasty a** used chew at the bottom of his cup in the chow hall and finds out that the dish washing machine in his unit is broken. He has had greasy dishes before but figured it was from the food that had just been served or something.

The dishes are only sprayed down and "washed by hand" not very well at all. I am so worried that he'll catch something from them. The are not being given any paper cups or plates until the machine is fixed. He called me again today and it turns out the machine has been broken since December. He was transfered there late February. I called the central office and submitted a complaint but it didn't get anywhere. I need to keep calling I suppose.

I have always wanted my baby home with me but not like yesterday and even more so today. I pray that he doesn't catch anything. I worry about me too since I was planning on visiting him the end of July and had foreseen a long make out session. LOL Well, not really but I did want to hug and kiss him. Now I have to worry about getting something from him and bringing it back home to my children

emtjen · #2 05-26-2012, 12:00 AM

That is horrible. I would be worried sick too. Especially with the children. I cannot believe they have not fixed it yet. Can you get a petition going in the county?

Scotties_Girl21 · #3 05-26-2012, 12:04 AM

Ugh that's horrible. I hope you get somewhere and it gets fixed because that's unacceptable.

pss12 · #4 05-26-2012, 12:29 AM

I have no idea where to go from here. I have a full plate as it is to take this on. He is writing me a letter for me to mail to the State DOC director and hopefully that will shine some light on the issue.
I did call the director's office yesterday and they referred me to constituent services. They weren't very helpful though. The contacted the facility warden's office and asked what was going on. Then they informed me that the dishwasher is irreparable and needs to be replaced. The are waiting on budget approval to lease a new one and that government takes a while with these issues.

Scotties_Girl21 · #5 05-26-2012, 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pss12

I have no idea where to go from here. I have a full plate as it is to take this on. He is writing me a letter for me to mail to the State DOC director and hopefully that will shine some light on the issue.
I did call the director's office yesterday and they referred me to constituent services. They weren't very helpful though. The contacted the facility warden's office and asked what was going on. Then they informed me that the dishwasher is irreparable and needs to be replaced. The are waiting on budget approval to lease a new one and that government takes a while with these issues.

They still shouldnt expect inmates to live under those conditions because their having budget issues. Ugh, I can imagine how frustrating that must be. Hopefully something will be done very soon!
:goodluck:

NeverDull · #6 05-26-2012, 02:40 AM

If it was a restaurant the Health Department would shut them down...maybe you can call the Health Department and see if they can help at all. Of course it seems like in soooo many ways the rest of our country and the government doesn't see our loved ones as humans with rights. This is totally deplorable!

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Zuweee · #7 05-26-2012, 11:24 AM

If they end up with numerous inmates catching something due to their lack of hygiene it could turn into a big public issue. I would just tell your man to be very cautious about the situation and do his best to avoid catching anything. If visitors start getting sick then they will definitely have some BIG explaining to do!

chili · #8 05-26-2012, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuweee

I would just tell your man to be very cautious about the situation and do his best to avoid catching anything.

In that situation I don't think there is any way to avoid anything unless the inmate refuses to eat out of that kitchen.

pss12 · #9 05-26-2012, 11:31 PM

yes alot of them have been refusing to eat out of the kitchen. I spoke to my man yesterday and he said the dishwasher had been broke since December. Today he called and said that he spoke to someone who's been in that unit a while and it's been actually broke since 2009. That individual thought it had been fixed though since at that time (2009) the inmates actually took a stance and some type of progress happened. We didn't have much time to talk. My bf is writing a letter to the director, governer, & health department. In the meantime I will be making some phone calls as well. Not only do I worry about him getting sick but also myself since I'd be visiting and also my children.

Zuweee · #10 05-27-2012, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chili

In that situation I don't think there is any way to avoid anything unless the inmate refuses to eat out of that kitchen.

And you just contradicted yourself... They can always inspect stuff before they go putting it in their mouth, its the same thing people do at restaurants. Yeah they might not be able to do much about it, but hey it's better to be safe than sorry.

ssks · #11 05-27-2012, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zuweee

And you just contradicted yourself... They can always inspect stuff before they go putting it in their mouth, its the same thing people do at restaurants. Yeah they might not be able to do much about it, but hey it's better to be safe than sorry.

Only problem is, you cannot see bacteria growing on food... So even if they are "inspecting" their food, they could still get very ill.

prettywings773 · #12 05-27-2012, 07:06 AM

do they use soap when they wash the dishes? don't restaurants hand wash their dishes? I understand your worry, but I am sure that the state knows that the dishwasher is broken and if it was a health hazard or against the law, they would have had it fixed. with budget cuts I can see how they wouldn't fix a dishwasher.

Zuweee · #13 05-27-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssks

Only problem is, you cannot see bacteria growing on food... So even if they are "inspecting" their food, they could still get very ill.

I see you point, but there's bacteria on everything... We all have the risk of getting sick, but if a plate/spoon/utensil seems dirtier than usual we probably shouldn't use it. Obviously inmates don't have many options, but they can ask questions and bring attention to the issue. Her man is doing that now, and hopefully the facility can come up with some kind of solution.

kccss16 · #14 05-27-2012, 07:20 AM

You should contact ur local DHEC (Department Health Environment Center)ask them whom should u contact with The possible event of a bateria outbreak within a prison... Which it could be them anyway.. Tell ur man he may have to eat more from the commissary and stop eatin certain things served.

*Will Ride to the End*

pss12 · #15 05-27-2012, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prettywings773

do they use soap when they wash the dishes? don't restaurants hand wash their dishes? I understand your worry, but I am sure that the state knows that the dishwasher is broken and if it was a health hazard or against the law, they would have had it fixed. with budget cuts I can see how they wouldn't fix a dishwasher.

They are spraying it down with cold water and then dunking them in a tub with water and sanitizer....you would think this would be okay but the dishes have come out still greasy and what really made my man ask was that he found chew at the bottom of his cup. Clearly what they are doing is not enough. He has only been there a month and a half but he was talking to one guy who said the dishwasher has been broken since December. Another inmate that has been there longer said it was broken in 2009. The inmates rallied and he thought it had actually been fixed but I guess not. So there's a chance that it's been broken since 2009. It is expensive to fix but what they should probably do is give them paper plates, cups, and plastic spoons.

SusanWayward · #16 05-27-2012, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prettywings773

do they use soap when they wash the dishes? don't restaurants hand wash their dishes? I understand your worry, but I am sure that the state knows that the dishwasher is broken and if it was a health hazard or against the law, they would have had it fixed. with budget cuts I can see how they wouldn't fix a dishwasher.

No, restaurants don't hand wash their dishes. Restaurants have industrial dish washers that heat the water to x number of degrees (the exact temperature is required by local health laws), spray down the dishes and then *perhaps* there is a human dishwasher that picks up the dishes off a conveyor belt or out of the basket and then hand dries them. Restaurants also receive regular inspections from the health dept, to ensure that these procedures are being followed.

Point being - these dishes at the prison are being washed in cold water or at best, lukewarm water. They need to be washed at a high temperature that kills bacteria. From what's been posted by the person whose family member is actually involved in this scenario - they're most likely in violation of local health laws.