House of Pain: an introduction
The first essay from an incarcerated inmate and activist in Alabama prisons. The state is currently under investigations and facing lawsuits by the Department of Justice for human rights violations.
Currently incarcerated in the Alabama Department of Corrections
My name is Bernard Jemison and I will briefly explain my story. I’ve been incarcerated since May 13, 1998, over 25 years now for felony murder that should have been self-defense. I was sentenced to serve life with the possibility of parole in the Alabama department of corrections.
During these 25 years I’ve witnessed the most abusive conduct by correctional guards and deplorable living conditions. I’ve initiated a host of civil lawsuits against ADOC officials that resulted in 4 federal trials. I lost all of these cases despite my evidence.
In 2018, ex-felon Jimmy Spencer was accused of killing two elderly women and a child. Governor K Ivey then placed massive pressure on her appointed parole board to enforce strict restrictions on parole approvals. This led to over 90 percent of paroles being denied in the state of Alabama.
The guys inside the ADOC system knew that there was little to no chance of obtaining freedom by parole. Once the atmosphere of hopelessness set in, the use of drugs escalated along with a rise in violence. Good behavior was no longer rewarded. Things inside became so violent that it was difficult to find prison staff willing to work. The system grew worse.
In 2020, attorney general William Barr filed a federal civil action against the ADOC listing a host of civil rights violations, abuse, medical neglect and shortage of staff. In 2022, I began taking action using devices, cellular phones, to bring exposure to the gravity of the inhumane prison conditions inside the department of corrections. I documented violence, abuse by staff, over crowdedness, understaffing, drug overdose and inadequate living conditions.
I release these videos to social media outlets, news journalists and TikTok. My videos have been viewed millions of times, and they have contributed to sparking a host of rallies, gatherings and a work strike of Alabama prisoners who refused to work until their living conditions met constitutional standards.
These videos exposed just how inadequate medical care is for Alabama prisoners, especially those with cancer and other chronic illnesses. Two of the cancer patients I interviewed in 2022 died weeks after I interviewed them. This set off a public outcry and rage against the medical contract service of Wexford. ADOC switched providers to YesCare, Corp. this January. The medical care continues to be horrific.
Due to the popularity of social media coverage of my videos, I was immediately placed in lock up or segregation where I remained for 6 months. My supporters took over my voice and continued to fight for the justice and rights I sought for on the behalf of those incarcerated. After a four day hunger strike, I was released back to the general population this spring and continue recording ongoing atrocities by prison personnel.
Now currently at Holman correctional, I continue to face non-stop retaliation and harassment for bringing public awareness to deplorable conditions here. My very life has been threatened. I’ve been placed in segregation, and I continue to receive disciplinary write ups. However, my suffering and documentation of our plight as prisoners in Alabama has opened the eyes of many to the level of degradation prisoners are subjected to in the state prison system. I hope my documentation will result in change and stability in the Alabama Department of Corrections.
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House of Pain: an introduction
My name is Bernard Jemison and I will briefly explain my story. I’ve been incarcerated since May 13, 1998, over 25 years now for felony murder that should have been self-defense. I was sentenced to serve life with the possibility of parole in the Alabama department of corrections.