By Randall Chase,
Associated Press
DOVER — Protesters took to the streets of Wilmington and Dover on Monday to demand better health care for state prison inmates, who, according to critics, are at the mercy of an uncaring, inept and profit-driven bureaucracy subject to little oversight.
The protests were prompted by a recent series of articles in a Wilmington newspaper outlining what critics say is dangerously substandard medical care within the prison system. The articles detailed the plights of several inmates, including some who died after what their families contend was chronic neglect.
"My son laid there in that prison and suffered. ... They sat there and let my son die," said Francine Wright, whose 35-year-old son, Darnell Anderson, died of AIDS-related pneumonia in January.
Ms. Wright was one of about 50 protesters who gathered on the steps of Legislative Hall at noon before marching a short distance to the governor's mansion in Dover, where they outlined 10 recommendations to improve the prison health care system.
Some of the recommendations echo suggestions made by state lawmakers, including independent oversight of the Department of Correction's medical service provider, mandatory testing of inmates for HIV and hepatitis, switching to cost-plus contracts for medical service and an independent investigation of the current medical care system.
Among other issues, The News Journal series, as well as earlier reports by The Associated Press, documented the high rate of AIDS-related deaths in Delaware prisons, and the $25.7 million-a-year, no-bid contract awarded to Correctional Medical Services in June. CMS was given the contract after the previous provider, First Correctional Medical, abruptly pulled out following an inspection by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.
"The Delaware prison system is sick. The system is in critical condition," said protest organizer Rev. Christopher Bullock, senior pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in Wilmington, where a similar rally was held earlier Monday.
"We're here to say to the establishment, to our governor, please step up to the plate," said Mr. Bullock, who criticized Gov. Ruth Ann Minner as being "strangely silent" about what he described as a prison culture of "incompetence, immorality and potential criminality."
Gov. Minner continued to remain silent Monday, referring questions through a spokeswoman to a prepared statement released by the Department of Correction.
In the statement, the DOC took issue with what it said was "a series of sensationalized, one-sided stories riddled with factual errors...."
While not addressing Monday's protests, the statement included a copy of DOC Commissioner Stanley W. Taylor's written response to The News Journal series, in which he requested "corrections of factual errors and misrepresentations ... that were then repeated in columns and an editorial."
"Providing medical services to an inmate population is a demanding and complicated task, but Delaware officials have worked diligently to improve the delivery of health care to our inmates and will continue to do so," the statement read.
Later Monday afternoon, after the close of business, the DOC issued a release noting the latest inmate death. Cornelius Harley, 53, of Wilmington, died Sunday night at a Wilmington hospital, according to the release.
While Gov. Minner and DOC officials refused to take questions about the prison health care system Monday, Republicans seem all too eager to make it a campaign issue.
State Sen. Charles Copeland, R-Wilmington, considered by some political observers to be a future gubernatorial candidate, was among those taking part in the protest.
Outside the governor's mansion in Dover, state GOP executive director Dave Crossan was seen positioning two protesters in front of the cameras. He later took a sign from one of the protesters that read "Governor Where Are You???" and gave it to another protester so it could be front and center.
