When Mr. Joseph Mitchell, reached out to the Remedy Project, he was in solitary confinement at MDC Brooklyn, the infamous federal detention center in New York City. He alluded that he was in isolation because of some mental health diagnosis. On September 9th, 2024, Solitary Housing Unit Lieutenant Ferguson brought Mr. Mitchell a cellmate. The Bureau of Prisons classifies individuals with different medical and mental health diagnoses into various care levels suited to their needs, and by policy, people are required to be housed with people at the same care level. Mr. Mitchell’s new cellmate did not have any mental health diagnoses and was not qualified to be his cellmate according to these standards. This was not unintentional. Mr. Mitchell was restrained while his cellmate was not and Lt. Ferguson told the other man to “fuck him up.” If it was not for Officers Cook, Sand, and Jackson, who removed Mr. Mitchell from the cell and restraints, it’s unknown what fate would have awaited him.
However, the abuse does not end there. On September 12th, medical staff did not bring Mr. Mitchell his necessary psychotropic medications. He informed Officer Charbaard, and he responded that it “wasn't his problem.” Additionally, on September 14th, Officer Tehran made sexually explicit comments towards Mr. Mitchell. When Mr. Mitchell confronted Officer Tehran about his inappropriate comments, the Officers’ retaliated further, and refused Mitchell access to the law library despite having been given initial permission by other officers.
With a desire to achieve justice and regain some of his dignity, Mr. Mitchell reached out to The Remedy Project for help filing an administrative remedy against the aforementioned staff members. Lt. Ferguson, alongside Officer Tehran, retaliated against Mr. Mitchell for writing up staff and exposing their inhumane behavior through the administrative remedy process. This retaliation included denying his necessary medications, physically threatening him with violence, and denying him access to the law library. Not only does this have the impact of negating the watchdog functions of the administrative remedy process, but it also instills a dangerous culture of fear and intimidation in anyone who tries to advocate for themselves when they are treated inhumanely and unjustly. By denying Mr. Mitchell his prescribed medications, access to the law library, and threatening him with physical violence, prison staff are attempting to stifle his voice and the little power he has through the use of the administrative remedy process. The administrative remedy process serves to allow incarcerated individuals to advocate for themselves against egregious, inhumane, and cruel abuses by prison staff. Efforts by BOP staff to retaliate and punish incarcerated individuals who use it should be harshly sanctioned and punished for the dangerous implications these actions have. Mr. Mitchell has a clear right to healthcare, access to the law library, and the right not to fear his safety for the mere act of advocating his rights. It is extremely transparent that MDC Brooklyn staff, especially Lt. Ferguson, wants to disempower their incarcerated population and obstruct any obstacles that get in the way of their egregious and inhumane treatment. It is clear Lt. Ferguson treats and sees incarcerated individuals as subhuman, not only because of his punishments against Mr. Mitchell but also for the instruction to have Mr. Mitchell’s cellmate attack him like a dog, which is extremely representative of how he and other staff see the incarcerated population. Only a handful of correctional staff felt the need and duty to protect Mr. Mitchell from an instructed attack, representative of the culture in the Bureau of Prisons. Mr. Mitchell currently fears for his life in submitting this complaint alone, he worries the situation will escalate and put his life in danger. The intended consequence of these horrific actions is to overwhelm Mr. Mitchell with fear, until the point when he no longer feels comfortable advocating for his rights, personhood, or safety.
Today Mr. Mitchell is at USP Coleman II, a high security prison without mental health care resources at the level that Mr. Mitchell is mandated to receive. He believes that this transfer is another act of retaliation. The systematic abuse and retaliation faced by Mr. Mitchell demands urgent action. We must hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable for its inhumane treatment of incarcerated individuals and protect the integrity of the administrative remedy process. This is not just about one man’s struggle—it is about the fundamental right of every incarcerated person to be treated with dignity, to have access to necessary medical care, and to advocate for their safety without fear of violent retribution. We call on the Bureau of Prisons, oversight bodies, and the public to take immediate action. Speak out. Demand justice. Ensure that those responsible for these abuses are held to account. Mr. Mitchell’s life—and the lives of countless others—depend on it.
These abuses at MDC Brooklyn are not isolated incidents—they are part of a systemic culture of violence, retaliation, and dehumanization against incarcerated individuals. Mr. Joseph Mitchell’s experience exemplifies the cruel and punitive tactics used by correctional officers to silence those who dare to advocate for their basic rights. On September 9, 2024, Mr. Mitchell was subjected to an orchestrated act of violence, ordered by Lt. Ferguson, while restrained and defenseless. In the days that followed, he was denied critical medication, barred from accessing the law library, and subjected to further retaliation—all in response to his use of the administrative remedy process. The very system designed to provide oversight and accountability is being weaponized to instill fear and submission. This is not just about Mr. Mitchell—this is about the countless incarcerated individuals suffering under the unchecked power of officers who operate with impunity.
When Mr. Joseph Mitchell, reached out to the Remedy Project, he was in solitary confinement at MDC Brooklyn, the infamous federal detention center in New York City. He alluded that he was in isolation because of some mental health diagnosis. On September 9th, 2024, Solitary Housing Unit Lieutenant Ferguson brought Mr. Mitchell a cellmate. The Bureau of Prisons classifies individuals with different medical and mental health diagnoses into various care levels suited to their needs, and by policy, people are required to be housed with people at the same care level. Mr. Mitchell’s new cellmate did not have any mental health diagnoses and was not qualified to be his cellmate according to these standards. This was not unintentional. Mr. Mitchell was restrained while his cellmate was not and Lt. Ferguson told the other man to “fuck him up.” If it was not for Officers Cook, Sand, and Jackson, who removed Mr. Mitchell from the cell and restraints, it’s unknown what fate would have awaited him.
However, the abuse does not end there. On September 12th, medical staff did not bring Mr. Mitchell his necessary psychotropic medications. He informed Officer Charbaard, and he responded that it “wasn't his problem.” Additionally, on September 14th, Officer Tehran made sexually explicit comments towards Mr. Mitchell. When Mr. Mitchell confronted Officer Tehran about his inappropriate comments, the Officers’ retaliated further, and refused Mitchell access to the law library despite having been given initial permission by other officers.
With a desire to achieve justice and regain some of his dignity, Mr. Mitchell reached out to The Remedy Project for help filing an administrative remedy against the aforementioned staff members. Lt. Ferguson, alongside Officer Tehran, retaliated against Mr. Mitchell for writing up staff and exposing their inhumane behavior through the administrative remedy process. This retaliation included denying his necessary medications, physically threatening him with violence, and denying him access to the law library. Not only does this have the impact of negating the watchdog functions of the administrative remedy process, but it also instills a dangerous culture of fear and intimidation in anyone who tries to advocate for themselves when they are treated inhumanely and unjustly. By denying Mr. Mitchell his prescribed medications, access to the law library, and threatening him with physical violence, prison staff are attempting to stifle his voice and the little power he has through the use of the administrative remedy process. The administrative remedy process serves to allow incarcerated individuals to advocate for themselves against egregious, inhumane, and cruel abuses by prison staff. Efforts by BOP staff to retaliate and punish incarcerated individuals who use it should be harshly sanctioned and punished for the dangerous implications these actions have. Mr. Mitchell has a clear right to healthcare, access to the law library, and the right not to fear his safety for the mere act of advocating his rights. It is extremely transparent that MDC Brooklyn staff, especially Lt. Ferguson, wants to disempower their incarcerated population and obstruct any obstacles that get in the way of their egregious and inhumane treatment. It is clear Lt. Ferguson treats and sees incarcerated individuals as subhuman, not only because of his punishments against Mr. Mitchell but also for the instruction to have Mr. Mitchell’s cellmate attack him like a dog, which is extremely representative of how he and other staff see the incarcerated population. Only a handful of correctional staff felt the need and duty to protect Mr. Mitchell from an instructed attack, representative of the culture in the Bureau of Prisons. Mr. Mitchell currently fears for his life in submitting this complaint alone, he worries the situation will escalate and put his life in danger. The intended consequence of these horrific actions is to overwhelm Mr. Mitchell with fear, until the point when he no longer feels comfortable advocating for his rights, personhood, or safety.
Today Mr. Mitchell is at USP Coleman II, a high security prison without mental health care resources at the level that Mr. Mitchell is mandated to receive. He believes that this transfer is another act of retaliation. The systematic abuse and retaliation faced by Mr. Mitchell demands urgent action. We must hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable for its inhumane treatment of incarcerated individuals and protect the integrity of the administrative remedy process. This is not just about one man’s struggle—it is about the fundamental right of every incarcerated person to be treated with dignity, to have access to necessary medical care, and to advocate for their safety without fear of violent retribution. We call on the Bureau of Prisons, oversight bodies, and the public to take immediate action. Speak out. Demand justice. Ensure that those responsible for these abuses are held to account. Mr. Mitchell’s life—and the lives of countless others—depend on it.
These abuses at MDC Brooklyn are not isolated incidents—they are part of a systemic culture of violence, retaliation, and dehumanization against incarcerated individuals. Mr. Joseph Mitchell’s experience exemplifies the cruel and punitive tactics used by correctional officers to silence those who dare to advocate for their basic rights. On September 9, 2024, Mr. Mitchell was subjected to an orchestrated act of violence, ordered by Lt. Ferguson, while restrained and defenseless. In the days that followed, he was denied critical medication, barred from accessing the law library, and subjected to further retaliation—all in response to his use of the administrative remedy process. The very system designed to provide oversight and accountability is being weaponized to instill fear and submission. This is not just about Mr. Mitchell—this is about the countless incarcerated individuals suffering under the unchecked power of officers who operate with impunity.
