Northampton County Jail: Lorena's Story of Medical Neglect & Abuse

Earlier this week, I told you about Controller Steve Barron's audit pointing to overtime abuse at Northampton County's jail. Although no fraud is alleged, Barron's job was certainly made more difficult by the destruction of daily time sheets. At the time Barron's report was released, I was sitting on another lengthy memorandum about conditions at the jail, coming from one of the inmates. Let me tell you her story.

Her name is Lorena Lee Hacker. She's a druggie, and like most addicts, has a criminal record. Charged in May with the latest batch of drug offenses, she was sent to jail as a parole violator. She's been sitting there since. During that time, Lorena has experienced and witnessed medical neglect, inhumane conditions and physical abuse.

Medical neglect and inhumane conditions

* At the time she was imprisoned, Lorena was still suffering from the effects of a miscarriage, which includes excessive bleeding, clots and cramps. She has complained about this situation repeatedly, but the prison will not let her see a gynecologist. The Physician's Assistant on duty, who has examined her from time to time, once pulled an uncovered speculum out of a drawer to do her work.

* There is one battery operatd razor for all women. Ten of them must use it at one time.

* An inmate named Tanisha Mathis was bleeding. She was pregnant, and it was a tubal pregnancy. In extreme pain and bleeding, she was finally rushed to the ER, where 2 1/2 liters of blood were in her chest. Half of her reproductive organs had to be removed. Although she was provided a follow up visit, no one would give her the results.

* An inmate named Mrs. Duckworth was throwing up blood, and was told to lie down. She did so, after which she had seizures and her appendix burst. Rushed to the hospital, she nearly died.

* An inmate named Chi complains she has high blood pressure, for which no treatment is offered.

* An elderly inmate named Mrs. Walton walks around all day, talking about being zapped up along with her husband. She clearly belongs in a mental facility.

* A physician who worked there for two weeks left in disgust because of the conditions, according to Lorena's mother, Lorraine Russo. He told her that one female inmate was actually walking around on a broken leg. He claims conditions at Guantanamo are better, and that the medications used at the jail are too old and ineffective.

* Woman are issued short-sleeved shirts, are unable to afford thermals and freeze during the day. Yet if they use a blanket for warmth between 8 AM and 8:30 PM, they are disciplined.

Physical abuse

According to the written report supplied to me, "Lorena and others have witnesses a woman being abused by male officers, beating a woman while being handcuffed and strapped to a chair. There were bruises, black and blue eyes and bruised arms from being grabbed. She saw a woman get thrown into a glass window in a hallway while handcuffed. [Lorena] heard her head hit the window. A female screamed to stop hitting her. There was a male yelling. They heard the woman being hit while handcuffed. They took her into another room, and shot her up with something. The told the woman to lock it up."

According to Lorena, this allegation of physical abuse is under internal investigation.

Lorena's mother, Lorraine Russo, has left no stone unturned in trying to get medical care for her daughter. She's approached County Exec John Stoffa, Council Prez Ann McHale, the Prison Advisory Board, State Senator Lisa Boscola and Corrections Director Bob Meyers.

Now I understand how easy it is to manufacture claims of abuse to get attention. Inmates do it all the time. They are convicted criminals, which puts a dent in their credibility. But how do you fake blood clots the size of tennis balls? How do you fake bleeding every 2 weeks for between 7 and 9 days?

In the meantime, Lorena is still bleeding.

Lorena's mom puts it best. "These are women, not dogs. They need to be treated with respect and at least medically. How on earth can we expect these women to want to change for the better?" I have warned Lorraine that she may be exposing her daughter to retaliation for these allegations, but she wants Lorena's story told.