Question: What is Nevada Cure?

By Gilbert Paliotta
Ely State Prison

Question, what is Nevada Cure? What does it/they do? Has it/they ever helped an inmate? Please, be honest with me. “Help” to me and others like me so that we’re able to take something that was given or done for us and elevate ourselves to a better place than where we were before that help.

Some of these prisoner support groups believe that whatever they do is enough, its beneficial to inmates. On some, albeit minor levels that’s true, but most of us are in way above our heads and need more than that.

Please do not think that I am ungrateful for them doing what they can, because I am not; and, I also understand that a majority of them -- if not all -- are work on a volunteer basis with little or no money.

 I look at things from behind bars, you see things without bars. So everything in my world will always be looked at with doubt, skepticism, like nothing is true anymore. This type of environment breeds distrust.

One thing I noticed in regards to the general public is that they don’t care unless “it” (being constitutional violations, injustices, etc) is happening to a large group of inmates or if it’s happening to one of their loved ones. I would like to change that.

The fraudulent ACLU for example, they only stepped in when it became apparent to them money was involved. It took many years for them to care about the medical abuse at ESP, if they cared at all.

Why did it have to take that long?

My suggestion would be to get involved from the very beginning, even if it’s happening to a single inmate: Jump all over it and broadcast it like it happened to you personally.

Here’s why. Let’s say NV-Cure screamed bloody murder and blew up the Internet with the violations going on with me. For example; that you talked at every attorney possible, stayed in their ear and guilt-tripped them into doing the “right thing”, that you sent out massive emails to anybody and everyone w/an email address, hit every chat room, attacked everyone’s wall on Facebook, and tweeted like crazy, urging them to help you do battle, someone will hear your cry, someone will reach out to you. I believe a closed mouth doesn’t get fed.

By taking on one individual’s situation it does a couple of things. First it sends a huge message to the Department of Corrections that there is someone out there who wants to intervene on the behalf of just one inmate. It makes them re-think their strategy on what they are doing. It leaves them wondering “why”? First, the DOC are bullies: Get hit in the face and they back up; two, it prevents one situation from becoming new situations. It’s tantamount to having a flat tire on a car; if a tire goes flat you fix the tire. You don’t wait for the other remaining tires to go flat before you fix them. That allows one inmate to become an “example” for the entire prison system. If something good happens to one inmate, others want to know about, it’s a “oh Yeah”? That one example is now in a position to help guide others so their situations don’t have to go beyond say the grievance level. That “example” has become a standard. The DOC now must follow because if the “example” was granted this/that/whatever, they now have to provide or allow that same action to the next inmate, four, you establish a “pay it forward” system. That “example”, whether you demand it or not, is going to feel obligated to do the same for someone else and also repay that kindness back to you, even if it is monetary.

If I win any of my lawsuits the plan is to set aside money to hire the services of an attorney for a prisoner whose constitutional rights have been violated. I also want to donate a portion to a legitimate prisoner support group for their efforts. The rest I want to give to my ex-fiancé for the pre-paid flights she already booked prior to my visitation being stolen from us and to the family members who helped me pursue this civil action I have pending in federal court.

 If you can, imagine yourself in my position, and me in yours.

Tell me everything you would want me to do in order to make the wrongs right again. Administration just took your visitation privileges for something you didn’t do, you’ve lost your husband because of it, and other family members are scared to go near the prison because of what they could be set up for. You’re stuck in segregation long past your expiration date. How would you feel?

 What would you want me to do to help you.

 What would you want done to those who attack you while you are in full restraints and beat on you while you are on the ground helpless?

Gilbert has a Facebook page and is looking for friends for correspondence: http://facebook.com/dreamerspellbroken

A Rubber Band and a Paperclip

By Gilbert Paliotta

I’ll start from where things went bad for me…. In 1998, Ely State Prison Administration housed me in a cell with a known “Gang Enforcer” (that’s how he was listed in their files) who was recently transferred to this prison from another one due to his numerous assaults and batteries on other inmates. A week before they housed me with this guy, he had been  released from the “hole” (punitive segregation) for cracking open the head of his last cellmate with a metal hotpot and ripping his eyeball out of its socket.

Administration moved me in the cell with this guy; and,  to save you from the gory details, a fight ensued and he lost his life.

Did I mention that he was over six feet tall and a solid two hundred pounds and that I am only five nine and one seventy? That up until 1998 I was labeled as a “ model inmate” (nothing to brag about but it’s better than being labeled a “Gang Enforcer”)? That ESP administration had prior knowledge revealed by the sheriff’s office that this guy was ordered to “hit” (kill) his last cellmate and yet they continued to cell me up with this guy?

 I was found guilty of murdering my cellmate even though it was clearly self-defense. In my prison disciplinary hearing I remained silent because I was facing criminal charges by the State of Nevada, but the disciplinary committee simply found me “guilty” without allowing me to defend against allegations, sentenced me to the maximum penalty in punitive segregation and illegally placed me on “high risk potential” (HRP) status, the most extreme and restrictive status an inmate can possibly be placed on, even worse than death row, not an accusation but a proven fact.

The warden at the time (McDaniel) left me on the HRP status until 2005,  long after my punitive segregation sentence had expired, ignoring my repeated attempts to be taken off said status and sent back to the general population. He stated he would not take me off HRP status until he considered me “no longer a threat to staff and inmates”.

In 2005, Warden McDaniels finally removed me from HRP status but did not send me back to the general population. He told me to give him six months. It’s now 2012 and I’m still not back in general population.

They keep me on “administrative segregation” under the guise of “safety security” reasons, which is a contradiction or the warden would not have taken me off HRP in 2005.

During this time I filed a Civil Rights complaint (or rather I tried to) regarding the prison holding me hostage all of these years in segregation, it was dismissed.   Had I had some help, that would not have happened. I had them dead to rights on that lawsuit.

Since they continue to keep me segregated when they have released other inmates who have been found guilty of murder of another inmate back to general population, I am beginning the steps of filing another separate complaint. This one will be from the date my prior lawsuit was dismissed.

And it gets worse…Physical abuse as retaliation

Administration didn’t like that I filed a lawsuit against them. In 2008, the guards assaulted me while I was handcuffed and had leg restraints on. Two days later, they assaulted me again while I was handcuffed and restrained. Of course, they twisted it up saying it was the other way around but how does a person attack two guards while he’s in full restraints?

 In 2009-10 I was engaged to be married and was receiving visits every three months from my fiancée’ who traveled all the way from England.

Again, administration disrupted my life as I knew it. That lawsuit! After one of my visits with my (now) ex-fiancee, they said they found a pair of panties on prison grounds and that she gave them to me. This is major. I was strip searched three times before and after visits by five different guards and  at no time was a pair of panties or any contraband for that matter ever found in my possession or on my person. 

During my disciplinary hearing (they charged me with possession of contraband’ for these alleged panties I allegedly received from my fiancée). I requested numerous witnesses, who all told me that they would testify on my behalf, and the video surveillance from the visiting room on the date of my fiancée’s visit to be introduced as evidence. The sergeant and lieutenant who handled this disciplinary hearing flat out refused to call any of the witnesses (all of whom were ESP staff) and refused to introduce the video surveillance.
 
They found me guilty of “possession of contraband”, sentenced me to a year punitive segregation and took my visiting privileges for one year.
 
I now have a civil action pending in federal court that is at the summary judgment phase.

In the process I lost my fiancée because she’s terrified to come back, thinking next time they will do something else worse to her.

My family members are hesitant to visit me for those same reasons.

Allow me to back pedal in time.

Eleven days after my last visit with my ex-fiancée (Michele), a pair of panties was again found on prison grounds!! The sergeant sent guards to my cell, strip-searched me and tore my cell apart, breaking items of my property in the process.
Get this, I was nowhere near where the pair of panties was found nor was I even outside. In fact, I had not even gone outside my cell since they lied about the first pair!

All of this is documented in the lawsuit and can be proven.

Also, during my disciplinary hearing (which is recorded) the lieutenant even stated, “No one is accusing you of being in possession of contraband.”  He still found me guilty.

I’m waiting to see what the repercussions are going to be for filing this lawsuit I have now in federal court.

Maybe I just don’t care no more. After losing my fiancée I silently pray someone puts me out of my misery because I am in the process of writing a separate civil action in state court challenging the prison administrations  lack of institutional protection of the laws in regards  to religious practices:  not allowing inmates to freely practice their religion.

 I’ve been through the riots; I’ve fought administration both physically and on paper. It is impossible to do this alone. All I have is a rubber band and a paper clip.

I read these so-called prisoner support groups articles about how they fight for us, stand with us , etc. I find that to be carrots on a stick. To be honest, I don’t think they even exist. What “help” or “support” have they given to us? Nobody I know has benefited from their services.

I am not accusing you of anything, I don’t know you.

It’s just that I’m so fed up with of this. Losing someone you genuinely love because of the actions of someone else is crushing.

Have you lost a loved one or had an engagement called off? I sincerely hope that you haven’t nor ever have to experience that, but, if you have, multiply that by a dozen, topped off with the loss of seeing your family members as well.

 Michele and I overcame major obstacles, living in different countries, me in prison, us being different nationalities and personalities among other things. Now imagine all of that being destroyed because ESP administration wanted to destroy the last bit of happiness I had in life.

 I try to better myself each everyday both mentally and physically by reading everything I possibly can and maintaining a workout routine. I share whatever knowledge I have with anyone that asks but I’m limited. I cannot reach beyond these prison walls without support.

No one thinks they will ever be in such a position as I am in, but if it can happen to me, if can happen to someone you love. Please support prisoners in their fight for justice and fairness.

Gilbert Paliotta #46244
ESP
P.O. Box 1989,
Ely, NV 89301