KANSAS CITY, Mo — In a letter to his parents, an inmate recently described what conditions are like inside the Lansing Correctional Facility.
Two weeks ago, inmates held a riot at the state prison, saying they're not receiving proper treatment as COVID-19 spreads throughout the facility.
Inger Stewart said her son, James Stewart, who has asthma, is an inmate at the prison.
In a letter that Stewart received from her son Wednesday, he wrote there are "full-scale riots" taking place inside the facility. James also said there's a "complete disregard for social distancing."
Stewart said she spoke to her son Tuesday by phone and that he's showing symptoms of COVID-19. Now, she's worried his health may decline.
"Our son is 17 months (away) from his release date," Stewart said. "I don't know if he's gonna come home."
Stewart said when she spoke with her son, he told her guards are mistreating inmates and possibly spreading the virus.
"(Guards are) walking to the cell house and coughing and saying, 'yeah, whatcha gonna do about it,'" Stewart said.
As of Wednesday evening, 60 staff members and 50 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.
Randall Bowman, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Corrections, told the I-Team that it's the first time he's heard of the complaint.
"Of course that would not be the type of behavior that we would expect of our employees," Bowman said. "Definitely something we would want to address."
According to Bowman, five inmates have been hospitalized because of the virus.
Currently, inmates who have COVID-19 are being held in quarantine at the facility's new building.
On Saturday, Bowman said the state will move all inmates and staff to the new facility, which is a concern for Stewart.
"All those men will have two people to a cell and they are doing no testing of anyone going into this new facility," Stewart said.
Bowman said officials are following current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to administering tests for COVID-19, which means not everyone will be tested.
However, all new admissions to the new facility from outside Lansing Correctional Facility will be screened and isolated for 14 days, according to Bowman.
When it comes to placing well inmates into the new facility where sick inmates are being held, Bowman said it's the safest option for both inmates and staff.
"Being a modern, new building, we have surfaces that are easier to wipe down and clean," Bowman said. "You have new, modern air handling systems that should not circulate any viruses in the way an old one might."
Bowman said the new facility also houses 128 bed units, whereas the older facilities are much more crowded. If someone becomes ill, fewer people will be exposed, Bowman said.
"Can we do everything to stop the virus? No," Bowman said. "Once you get the virus in, you're gonna have it."
Stewart said the inmates are scared.
"It's terrible to not be able to know your son is okay," Stewart said. "These men are humans. Not just dogs in a cage."
