Human rights activists seek probe into abuse claims at state prisons

By Bill Vidonic, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW

Activists on Tuesday demanded an investigation by the Legislature and the Department of Justice into abuse claims at state prisons.

The local chapter of the Human Rights Coalition, along with affiliated groups, protested outside the City-County Building, Downtown. The protest, they said, was sparked by last month's arrest of a corrections officer at SCI Pittsburgh.

Coalition members said they were stunned by the depth of accusations against Harry Nicoletti, who is charged with more than 90 counts of sexual assault, indecent assault and related offenses over more than two years.

"It had been going on for so long, and we had not been receiving reports about it," said Bret Grote, a member of the coalition. "It just leads us to question what else we don't know about behind those walls."

Nicoletti, 59, of Coraopolis, and seven other guards are suspended without pay. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said that other prison employees will be charged, though with less serious offenses than those alleged against Nicoletti.

The coalition says it has received hundreds of complaints about state prisons in Greene, Fayette, Dallas, Camp Hill, Huntingdon and other facilities, detailing physical and mental abuse, sexual harassment, racism and other mistreatment.

The group wants a review of the inmate grievance process -- saying nearly all are rejected -- and a halt to new prison construction; the state is planning three new prisons.

"We have a comprehensive policy, and inmates can, if they follow the policy correctly, appeal a denial to the (correction department) secretary's office," said corrections spokeswoman Susan McNaughton.

Shandre Delany, 52, of Elliott, a coalition member and mother of inmate Carrington Keys, said her son has been sanctioned because he is a "jailhouse lawyer, a civil- and human-rights activist within the prison." His punishments have included solitary confinement, she said.


(2011-10-19/PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW)