On February 2nd of 2024, Albert Tillman requested help from The Remedy Project after suffering neglect and abuse for two decades at the hands of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) and the warden and staff at USP Yazoo City.
In 1997, Albert was convicted of three nonviolent crimes: Trespass in the 3rd Degree, Theft of Property in the 3rd Degree, and Failure to Appear. These offenses, causing less than $1,500 in total damages, were adjudicated in 2001: they were resolved through the legal process. Despite
these resolutions, USP Yazoo City used Albert’s 1997 cases as a justification for their continued abuse. At best, their acts reflect neglect. At worst, their acts reveal a disturbing truth about the lack of regard for humanity that those controlling prisons have for those within them.
The staff at USP Yazoo City committed a gross miscarriage of justice by deliberately holding Albert under a false detainer and failing to apply his First Step Act (FSA) credits for two decades. A detainer notifies a prison that a defendant is wanted for pending criminal charges in another jurisdiction. By falsely acting as if his 1997 charges were still pending, USP Yazoo City staff had falsified grounds to reject applying the FSA credits that Albert worked hard to earn.
FSA credits are instrumental in helping to facilitate the transition from prison back into general society for many incarcerated individuals. They do so by enabling participants to earn time towards early release, either to a halfway house or home confinement, by partaking in recidivism reduction programs or productive activities. During the course of his sentence, Albert became motivated to contribute to the betterment of his communities upon his release, and made a concerted effort to educate himself by participating in these programs. Because of USP Yazoo City’s abuses of power, Albert was denied the early release that he had rightfully earned, undermining his hard work and chances of a smooth reintegration after his sentence.
The egregious acts of USP Yazoo City constituted several violations of BOP policy and the U.S. Constitution:
The Eighth Amendment prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment,” including punishment that is excessive, barbarous, or fundamentally unjust. This amendment, which seeks to prevent unnecessary suffering, was directly violated when Albert suffered two decades of false detainment and was denied the application of his FSA credits.
Right #1 of the BOP Handbook affirms that incarcerated individuals “have the right to expect that [they] will be treated in a respectful, impartial, and fair manner by all staff.” The very first principle of the BOP Handbook, which outlines an expectation that prison staff uphold basic human dignity of all inmates, was once again clearly violated when Albert was unfairly and disrespectfully held under a false detainer and rejected his FSA credits.
Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 2635.101(b)(c) mandates that federal employees “shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.” Emphasizing the importance of integrity and diligence in federal employee roles, the staff of USP Yazoo City’s treatment of Albert’s case once more stands in stark violation of this code—and many others enshrined in our federal laws and even written by the BOP themselves.
The inhumane treatment Albert endured at USP Yazoo City represents a profound violation of laws, regulations, and fundamental human rights. The actions of the staff at USP Yazoo City have caused severe emotional, physical, and mental suffering for Albert and his loved one—suffering that is beyond restitution. These violations occur on a daily basis within the BOP, affecting hundreds of thousands of other incarcerated people and their families. However, we ask that readers share Albert’s story and do what can be done to fight for justice to the highest degree possible.
On February 2nd of 2024, Albert Tillman requested help from The Remedy Project after suffering neglect and abuse for two decades at the hands of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) and the warden and staff at USP Yazoo City.
In 1997, Albert was convicted of three nonviolent crimes: Trespass in the 3rd Degree, Theft of Property in the 3rd Degree, and Failure to Appear. These offenses, causing less than $1,500 in total damages, were adjudicated in 2001: they were resolved through the legal process. Despite
these resolutions, USP Yazoo City used Albert’s 1997 cases as a justification for their continued abuse. At best, their acts reflect neglect. At worst, their acts reveal a disturbing truth about the lack of regard for humanity that those controlling prisons have for those within them.
The staff at USP Yazoo City committed a gross miscarriage of justice by deliberately holding Albert under a false detainer and failing to apply his First Step Act (FSA) credits for two decades. A detainer notifies a prison that a defendant is wanted for pending criminal charges in another jurisdiction. By falsely acting as if his 1997 charges were still pending, USP Yazoo City staff had falsified grounds to reject applying the FSA credits that Albert worked hard to earn.
FSA credits are instrumental in helping to facilitate the transition from prison back into general society for many incarcerated individuals. They do so by enabling participants to earn time towards early release, either to a halfway house or home confinement, by partaking in recidivism reduction programs or productive activities. During the course of his sentence, Albert became motivated to contribute to the betterment of his communities upon his release, and made a concerted effort to educate himself by participating in these programs. Because of USP Yazoo City’s abuses of power, Albert was denied the early release that he had rightfully earned, undermining his hard work and chances of a smooth reintegration after his sentence.
The egregious acts of USP Yazoo City constituted several violations of BOP policy and the U.S. Constitution:
The Eighth Amendment prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment,” including punishment that is excessive, barbarous, or fundamentally unjust. This amendment, which seeks to prevent unnecessary suffering, was directly violated when Albert suffered two decades of false detainment and was denied the application of his FSA credits.
Right #1 of the BOP Handbook affirms that incarcerated individuals “have the right to expect that [they] will be treated in a respectful, impartial, and fair manner by all staff.” The very first principle of the BOP Handbook, which outlines an expectation that prison staff uphold basic human dignity of all inmates, was once again clearly violated when Albert was unfairly and disrespectfully held under a false detainer and rejected his FSA credits.
Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 2635.101(b)(c) mandates that federal employees “shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.” Emphasizing the importance of integrity and diligence in federal employee roles, the staff of USP Yazoo City’s treatment of Albert’s case once more stands in stark violation of this code—and many others enshrined in our federal laws and even written by the BOP themselves.
The inhumane treatment Albert endured at USP Yazoo City represents a profound violation of laws, regulations, and fundamental human rights. The actions of the staff at USP Yazoo City have caused severe emotional, physical, and mental suffering for Albert and his loved one—suffering that is beyond restitution. These violations occur on a daily basis within the BOP, affecting hundreds of thousands of other incarcerated people and their families. However, we ask that readers share Albert’s story and do what can be done to fight for justice to the highest degree possible.
