Gov. Bill Haslam oversees a corrections system that under the Tennessee constitution allows the enslavement of people convicted in court or plea bargained outside of it —29,000 people, mostly men. (Photo wrcbtv.com)
WARTBURG, Tenn., Morgan County Correctional Complex, Aug. 10, 2017 — Dear Gov. [Bill] Haslam, Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Tony Parker is allowing Warden Shawn Phillips to permit MCCX employees to use profanity towards inmates.
By Grenda Harmer, No. 88710
On July 22, 2017, at approximately 7:10 a.m., Cpl. J. York started using profanity towards me. I immediately told Cpl. York to cease cursing at me. Cpl. York said he wasn’t cussing me out but he was using cuss words to get his message to me. He told me that he did 9 years in the military and if I didn’t like it, to get over it.
TDOC policy 305.03(VI)(A) clearly states, “employees shall conduct themselves in a professional manner when interacting with offenders.” 41-1-103(a) is the oath Cpl. York took to “fully, faithfully, impartially and diligently” not only “execute the laws and regulations prescribed for the government of” MCCX; but that he will “on no occasion, ill-treat or abuse any convict” under his care.
Cpl. York violates not only TDOC policy 305.03, but his oath as well when he hurled profanity at me. Cpl. York was not acting professionally, and he was intentionally mistreating me. Commissioner Tony Parker is allowing this.
Will you please order TDOC commissioner Tony Parker to order Warden Shawn Phillips to require all MCCX employees to cease using profanity towards me and all other prisoners.
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