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American Friends Service Committee

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a social justice organization of people of faith committed to justice and peace through humanitarian service and political action. It aims to support values of non-violence and justice through the expression of love and divinity of all humans.

This collection focuses specifically on the AFSC's efforts to shut down Control unit prisons in the US, quickly leading to the formation of the National Campaign to Stop Control Unit Prisons (NCSCUP), a subgroup of AFSC members and concerned community members inside and outside prison walls dedicated to putting an end to the inhumane conditions within Control Units. NCSCUP was founded at a 1994 AFSC gathering of organizations and individuals concerned with the growing number of Control units within US federal penitentiaries. The organization focused primarily educational and awareness efforts surrounding Control units violation of the UN Minimum Standards for the treatment of Prisoners and asserted the use of control units as cruel and unusual punishment.

The Collection includes materials surrounding the educational and legal efforts of the organizations main east coast headquarters and 3 regional branches. The material reflects an extensive partnership between NCSCUP and prisoners, as well as other anti-prison groups.

The Campaign to Abolish Control Unit Prisons. (1995, March 21). Campaign to abolish control
unit prisons. In University of Massachusetts. Retrieved July 26, 2012, from http://people.umass.edu/kastor/groups/nacun/c.u.pamphlet.html

American Friends Service Committee. (1994, June 19). Mission and values. In American Friends Service Committee. Retrieved July 26, 2012, from http://afsc.org/mission-and-values

American Friends Service Committee. (2011, July). CA prisoners end hunger strike as officials vow positive changes. In American Friends Service Committee. Retrieved July 26, 2012, from http://www.afsc.org/story/ca-prisoners-risk-death-challenge-isolation-policies

Documents

Letter to Morton Sklar, Director, World Organization Against Torture Letter to Morton Sklar, Director, World Organization Against Torture
Publisher: Bonnie Kerness, American Friends Service CommitteeYear: 1998Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Letter concerning methods of torture used in federal and state correctional facilities. Part of 9/1998 mailing.
Letter to prisoners and prison advocates Letter to prisoners and prison advocates
Publisher: Staughton and Alice LyndYear: 1998Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
summary of conditions reported by more than 20 prisoners at Ohio State Penitentiary. Includes: Criteria for selection; Lack of notice; Mental health; Security or Punishment; exit criteria and methods; Grievance procedure; Changes; medical treatment; Attitudes. Part of 9/1998 mailing.
Public Witness to Opposition to the "Supermax" Public Witness to Opposition to the "Supermax"
Publisher: Jean EdenFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Public witness letter against the building of a supermax prison in Madison, WI. Part of 8/1997 mailing.
Letter to Pierre Sane, Secretary General, Amnesty International Letter to Pierre Sane, Secretary General, Amnesty International
Publisher: Thomas Ruffin Jr.Year: 1996Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Letter Re: Revised letter about torture of political prisoner--Jalil Muntaqim (a.k.a Anthony Bottom). Part of 11/1996 mailing.
Killing us Softly and scientifically: Update on M.C.C. Killing us Softly and scientifically: Update on M.C.C.
Publisher: National Campaign to Stop Control UnitsYear: 1996Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Update on the current conditions and reality at MCC/MCF, Westville, IN. Part of 11/1996 mailing.
Letter to Defender of Human Rights and Justice Letter to Defender of Human Rights and Justice
Publisher: Douglas Spalding, National Campaign to Stop Control Unit PrisonsYear: 1996Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Letter calling to action. Speaks of brutality in control Units. Invitation to Spring hearing 2/4/1996.
Segregation Plans Segregation Plans
Publisher: Bonnie Kerness, Year: 1996Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Email detailing new enforcement of segregation plans in Control Units. Details 3 classifications levels. Part of 12/1995 mailing.
Warren Christopher, Secretary of State Warren Christopher, Secretary of State
Publisher: Kenneth Roth, Exec. Director Human Rights Watch; Gay MacDougall, Exec. Director, International Human Rights Law Group; Elaine R. Jones, Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.Year: 1995Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Letter to Secretary of State expressing interest in the U.S. forthcoming submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Includes Summary of Concerns about Race Discrimination in the I.S. Criminal Justice System. Part of 12/1995 mailing.
CEML Letter CEML Letter
Publisher: Committee to End the Marion LockdownYear: 1995Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Urgent letter regarding 10/1995 prison rebellions. Part of 11/1995 mailing.
Questionarre for prisoners Questionarre for prisoners
Publisher: Mike Stephenson; Liz gross, American Friends Service committeeYear: 1995Format: CorrespondenceCollection: American Friends Service Committee
Letter and questionnaire on Control Unit Prisons