A Prisoner’s First Amendment Rights

In a very important and groundbreaking case, I have finally won the First Amendment right to hold the Department of Corrections staff accountable for their acts behind these walls and fences. See Harris-vs-Calloway, 2:17-cv-02075-MMM in the U.S. Central District Peoria Division.

History Repeats Itself

On January 7, I appeared in court in Peoria for my case Harris vs Calloway et. Al. 2:17-cv-02075-MMM Document #58. The judge has ruled in my favor in this land-breaking case—he ruled that I could not be punished for exercising my First Amendment rights.

No longer can the prisoner be punished for exposing the malfeasance and corruption in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Chow on July Fourth

Today we went to chow. It is the Fourth of July. In the past we were given a real meal on the 4^th—a cheeseburger, a pork, or turkey sausage with a big bag of potato chips and a cup of ice cream. Today we had tamales and mystery-meat chili. We were given a red apple. But staff was standing outside the chow hall making the prisoner throw away the apple. Vindictive treatment that will serve no penological interest.

The IDOC does not believe in rehabilitation anymore. They strive to treat the prisoner in a demeaning manner. This is the mindset taught by the IDOC supervisor–taught at the recruiting academy in Springfield.

Someone down the line decided that if we treat them as harshly as we can they will not return. But this concept is not based on facts. The recidivism rates in the State of Illinois proves this. The treatment we get here only creates angry men and women released upon the public

Worst Thanksgiving

I did not believe the Food Supervisors here could do a worse job on the Thanksgiving meal. But today I was found to be wrong. I received a hot tray. But it was cold. Three compartment styrofoam tray. On the hot tray the front compartment was filled with cold instant potato mix. Then on top of that was a spoon full of stuffing. On the other end was three ounces of turkey flakes. Not even real turkey this year. No dinner roll. No turkey gravy. All the leftover vegetables from the week were mixed together in the small compartment. They tasted terrible. In the other compartment was two small pieces of sweet potatoes. This swimming in brown water. On the cold tray the pumpkin pie had a cooler-burn flavor from sitting in the cooler, in the open. It had taken on the funky flavor of the cooler. Two stale pieces of bread. Lettuce with ranch dressing. My neighbor opened his tray. Took a look. Closed it and only ate the pie. I ended up taking the turkey flakes and mixing it with a bag of chicken breast meat. I mixed this with a bag of chili. My Thanksgiving meal. So I hope Pritzker does not cut the prison dietary budget again. Food here is very disappointing daily. But today they won the award for the worse Holiday meal yet. Sad state of affairs. Larry 11-25-2021

Great news on the fight with the Grim Reaper

We put him down in round three. Nurse dialed in my nausea medicine and it worked great. I took one pill one hour before I left for chemo treatment and the two hour i v. drip. Then the chemo pack placed on my chest. This usually makes me pretty sick. But I was able to eat a small meal last night with chemo pack on. A first there. Today I was given the nausea on the same regiment. Was able to eat lunch. So the grim reaper is down and out. I am eating. Getting strong again. So in the future the Grim Reaper will rear his ugly head again. But death has been put on hold for now. Chemo no longer having me fubar. (Fubar: F—-ed Up Beyond All Recognition) So great news as I face Nine more rounds of chemo every other week. Once the chemo pack is off I get a two hour rehydrating drip. This on Friday night. Again on Saturday. So I am feeling really strong again. So to my fellow cancer buddies. Keep your heads up and chest out. I wish you the best. To my readers, I am lean, mean, like the junk yard dog. I will kick this cancer down the road. Larry 10-28-2021

More Retaliation

February 7, 2021

The Warden was supposed fill all commissary staff positions and start running the store right. Instead she retaliated by removing 114 items off the store.

Budget Cuts

December 29, 2020

Starting January 1st, 2012, Governor Pritzker is cutting the IDOC prisoner dietary budget by 2% statewide. Another cut to our already depleted dietary budget.

Retaliation Cover-Up For First Amendment Activity

October 18, 2020

Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) staff use illegal acts to punish and silence the prisoner who exposes their corruption and malfeasance.

Prison Lockdown

August 21, 2020

You may be wondering what is happening in the prisons during the Covid-19 crisis.

Dangerous Situation

August 7, 2020

Prison lockdown 24/7. The prisoner is being denied all rights and privileges due to a nurse coming to work sick.

No Sleep Again Tonight

July 27, 2020

Denying sleep is a great cause of short tempers. I see the other men starting to snap under the repeated treatment.

Seeking Civil Rights Attorney

July 21, 2020

Seek lawyer to represent in interesting civil rights suit. See Harris-vs-Brannon, et al., 4:19-cv-04235-JES.

No Lawyers Allowed in Illinois Prisons?

July 16, 2020

No prisoners sick. None tested positive for virus. So why am I still on lockdown with no lawyer calls allowed?

Corona Virus Measures in the Illinois Prisons

MARCH 30, 2020

In mid-March we received a memo stating there was no corona virus in the IDOC. Nevertheless, we have been put on lockdown, because of “coronavirus.”

VICTORY OVER SOY!

The Illinois Department of Corrections Dietary Manager at Shawnee Correctional Center has stated that they will no longer be serving soy. The inmates are getting roast beef for their Christmas meal. Poultry scraps, pork, and some beef are back now. This is a true win we could not have done without the help of the Weston A. Price Foundation. A huge thank you from all the prisoners in the state of Illinois!

Body Worn Cameras Police July 23, 2023
Body Camera Legislation In the year of 2022, several correctional officers beat an elderly prisoner to death at the Western Illinois Correctional Center. This is located in Mt. Sterling, Illinois. You can look up the story on line. With a growing push for legislation to require the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) staff to wear […]
Larry Harris
Level System Still in Place November 8, 2022
The cancer treatment is going well. On the 28th of September I was given a complete cat scan of my body. The good news finally came. I caught a break. The cancer has not spread to any other part of me. Soon I will go out to get the two spots on my liver removed. […]
Larry Harris
Update From Larry August 20, 2022
Colon Cancer Hello my Readers. I have survived the colon cancer. The yearly catscan showed my digestive track is clean now. Unfortunately, the catscan showed couple small spots on my liver. I was schedule for a liver biopsy on July 20th, 2022. But when I was placed in the catscan, and the procedure started, the […]
Larry Harris
Last Cancer Treatment March 21, 2022
Hello my readers. Thanks for stranding by me while I fought this cancer. I face treatment number twelve this Wednesday. Six months of a chemo double whammy treatment, every other week, finally comes to an end. Wednesday I will face the last chemo three hour drip. Then the last three days of the chemo pack […]
Larry Harris
Deceptive Practice to Deny Medical Order January 26, 2022
On December 10th, 2021, Health Care Unit Administrator Meaker told me she had sent Dr. Osmondson’s Medical Order to allow me to shop me once a week, to sustain my weight and health, to Warden Clark to approve or deny. Mislead and Lied To So I went after the records to substantiate whether it was […]
Larry Harris
Soy Diet Colon Cancer January 4, 2022
Common Sense is Not So Common From 2008 until April of 2016, I received a medical No-Soy diet. The IDOC industry meat substitutes made me sick. I proved this up. In 2016, my diet was denied. Danville C.C.’s staff saw that the other prisoners wanted the same medical diet I was given. The Health Care Unit […]
Larry Harris
Good-Bye 2021 December 31, 2021
It was a year I am glad to put behind me. Nothing good was accomplished. I spent the year sick with cancer Court cases put on hold. Moved to the infirmary in the prison. Not a place one wants to reside in. Colon cancer surgery. Port surgery on my chest for chemo treatment. Six trips […]
Larry Harris
The Grim Reaper October 7, 2021
September 15, 2021 A man thinks he will live forever. When one is young he acts in foolish ways; he does things to tempt death because in youth he feels invincible. In middle age he calms down and looks to his family and their future together. This is truly the best of times. Even a […]
Larry Harris
Illinois Prison Diet Update July 2, 2021
I just wanted to share this update. It is not good news. Everything the Weston A. Price Foundation did to get the soy removed from the Illinois Department of Correction diet was set aside with a change of governor. During the Republican leadership of Governor Rauner, the soy was removed from the prison diet. He did not […]
Larry Harris
Commissary Victory June 25, 2021
In the Illinois Department of Corrections, the prisoner is given nothing. The prisoner must buy his envelopes to write to his family. He must buy the pen and paper. He must buy all the cosmetics to keep his body clean: body soap, laundry soap, razors, shampoo. Nothing is given to the prisoner anymore. He must buy the batteries […]
Larry Harris