8-9-20

Hello,

    My name is Mansa Carvin and I have been on social and sensory deprivation for seven years. I’ve been allowed only one hour of recreation per day for the last seven years due to the Michigan Department of Corrections Security Threat Group Policy. The security threat group policy is used to punish gang members in an arbitrary fashion. You get no hearing so you can’t defend your self or see the evidence that is being used to give you the S.T.G. designatio. Once the MDOC gives you the STG designation there isn’t any documented criteria for the prisoner to follow to get the STG designation removed.

    There are two types of STG designations: STG I and STG II. STG 1 allows 2 hours of outside activity per day and all day yard/day room activities on he weekend if you are in Level II or I. STG II only allows the prisoner out for recreation one hour per day everyday, no contact visits which are only two a month for one hour. The STG designation limits your phone calls to 5 per week, you can’t go to school or be in the vocational lounge, you can’t get a job, and you can’t receive a secure pak. I’m currently on STG II.

    Once a prisoner is placed on STG, it is extremely difficult to get the designation reduced or removed. Due to the autocracy of the STG coordinator/inspector to recommend STG reduction or removal, there is no criteria to get the STG designation reduced or removed so the STG coordinator uses whatever reason he/she wants to for denial. No evidence needed, it is whatever they believe. For some unknown reason, they hardly ever reduce or remove the STG designation of prisoners. Check the statistics.

    I’ve done everything righteous to earn removal of this STG designation. I’m no longer a gang member. I haven’t been one in over three years. I’ve been attacked by gang members for leaving the gang, the MDOC has uncovered a plot by my ex-gang to stab me because I left the gang, and I’ve been attacked by my ex-gang’s rivals because of the STG designation that is on me. That is why I’m in segregation now. I was mistakenly identified as high ranking “blood” member because of the improper STG II designation I have. I was seriously assaulted by a “crip” because of a false label and not my actions. I was targeted and almost lost my eye because I’m labeled as high ranking “blood” and I am not.

    You would think with all this information the MDOC would take the STG designation off. Instead they misuse it to keep me on even though itis documented I quit the gang in the protection/seg and transfer order. I’m constantly stressing cause I’m in my cell 23 hours a day. I really do want to earn a trade or college degree to better myself so when I get out of prison I can live a honest productive life. It is like the MDOC is using the STG designation to vindictively stop prisoners rehabilitation. The STG designation stops an education and job opportunities. It limits the interactions you have with your loved ones. You can’t send Jpay messages, can’t hug your family, two one hour none contact visits a month, only five phone calls a week. I have dreams and I have goals but the arbitrary STG coordinator is abusing their authorities.

    I’ve received one major misconduct and one minor misconduct in the past forty-two months. I’m suppose to be in a level one minimum security prison but here I sit in a high security prison with maximum security restrictions because a improper STG designation. I get one hour out my cell once a day and everyone else gets three hours and I’ve had Level One points for three years. I’ve been isolated from my family and that hurts the most. My father died last year and I could not attend his funeral because of this false STG designation. If this designation was not on me I would be in Level One or Level Two and I would of been able to attend my father’s funeral. I have two daughters in two different households. One lives in Texas and comes to Michigan once a year. Can you imagine only seeing me for one hour through glass after traveling that far? That is heart breaking.

    I have seven years left in prison and before I leave I want to earn a electrician license. If possible while I’m in here I want to earn a Bachelors degree in electrical engineering. That is my dream and a personal goal of mine. But I need help getting this designation off me. I’ve done all I can do. This STG designation is a problem. My passion is education and success. My father always preached education and I’ve kept him in my heart and mind. The time I have left in here needs to be put to great use to create the highest success rate possible upon leaving prison. I’m ready to learn. Thank you for listening to my stressful life in prison. Please share my story with others.

Sincerely,

Mr. Mansa Carvin #340131

P.S. The Security Threat Group policy is not used for appropriate reasons. The STG policy is used to violate and bypass a prisoner’s 14 amendment right against self discrimination. The punishment is the use of the STG designation which allows the isolation and social sensory deprivation of a general population prisoner. The STG Policy does not prevent violence, the introduction of contraband, escape plots, or debt collection as the policy statement claims. Matter of fact, they pick and choose who they want to put on STG and only about 10% of gang members are designation as a Security Threat Group Member. What is so backwards about the STG policy is that a designated Security Threat Group member is not allowed to officially renounce his/her gang membership to the STG coordinator/inspector. The STG coordinator/inspector tells the prisoner if or when they can sign the renunciation form to renounce their gang membership. Howe can a STG coordinator determine when he will allow me to quit the gang but ignore me when I inform him I quit the gang and don’t allow me to sign the renunciation form to renounce my gang membership?