Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 6, 1 June 2004 — Inmate death [ARTICLE]

Inmate death

I am an inmate serving time at the Hālawa Correctional Facility in Honolulu. I am writing about the recent death of a Hawai'i inmate, Antonio Prieto, who was found dead in the HCF infirmary. Prior to his death, I spent seven weeks in the infirmary recovering from a surgery, and I had observed Mr. Prieto very ill. I had also observed some staff making comments that he was faking his illnesses. Mr. Prieto's death gives me flashbacks of other inmates who have died in the hands of prison officials. They would have all been alive if they had been admitted to a eommunity hospital where they would have received the necessary treatment for their illnesses. I myself was a victim, but God spared my life. This should be a great eoneem to all who have loved ones incarcerated. We are human beings, not guinea pigs. Lael Samonte Hālawa