Browse Items (1263 total)

There is a lot of controversy regarding a report by Professor William Curran, focusing on violations of prisoner privacy, proposed treatments using behavior modification, the legality of transferring prisoners out of state, etc.

Prisoners protested Superintendent Waitkevich's statement that he would withdraw recognition of the NPRA.

State policemen entered Walpole to stop a prisoner uprising.

This newspaper article talks about cadet guards and their perspectives on their job in the prison.

Newspaper article detailing prisoners' request to meet with Hall.

This article details a plan by Boone to appoint a 4-person team to lead Walpole, right before he was fired by Gov. Sargent.

This article discusses a press conference in which Gov. Francis Sargent expressed support for John Boone in the midst of controversy surrounding Walpole.

This article focuses on the failure of the MA government to implement prison reform measures.

Observer Report from April 21, 1973; Shift 11pm-7am; Maximum Blocks 1-8. Weng relates an prisoner's complaints about the lack of access to opportunities like correspondance courses and auto mechanic shops.

Welch speaks with a prisoner, who mentions the recent suicide but knows little about it. He also visits the laundry and observes the work there.

Welch found the cadets to be young, Black, and very aware of the "dynamics of prison life," and the prisoners to be very welcoming. He notes that in contrast to the newspaper reports, the prisoners don't hold grudges against those who didn't return…

Handwritten Observer Report by Paul Weisse on March 22, 1973

Typed Observer Report by Paul Weisse on approximately 3/22/1973

Prisoners are alright with the cadets, but hate the old guards. Prisoners are welcoming to observers, whereas guards dislike them and are uncooperative. While prisoners stick with their own racial groups, there is no hostility between them.

Prisoner observes extreme warmth in Block 7

The Walpole Lifers' Group discusses the status of being a Lifer, as well as a report published by Massachusetts citizens calling for changes in sentencing procedures.

The heat is high, and prisoners complain of guards in cell blocks.