Page 86 - Summer2009

request that they initiate an investigation and enforcement action under Honorable Harold Baker
WKH 3ULVRQ /LWLJDWLRQ 5HIRUP $FW 8QLWHG 6WDWHV &RGH 6HFWLRQ D United States District Court Judge
also known as the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). for the Central District of Illinois
A sample letter is given below. 338 U.S. Courthouse
201 South Vine Street
FOR INMATES Urbana, IL 61802
Follow procedure and submit grievance reports, delineating your Use your commissary money wisely to
health problems and requesting a soy-free diet. Be sure to keep copies of purchase healthy foods. Good choices include
all grievance reports and medical records. sardines, tuna and salmon, cheese, summer sau-
Write to Judge Harold Baker describing your health problems on the sage, Spam (for vitamin D and healthy fats), pork
prison soy diet and requesting to be included in Harris et al. v. Brown, et cracklings and plain rice. Avoid sweets, chips,
DO &DVH 1R FY RU DQ\ VXEVHTXHQW FDVHV RQ WKLV LVVXH .HHS sodas, etc. as these make you more vulnerable
your letter respectful and concise. His address: to the harmful effects of soy.
For further information, visit Soy Alert! at
westonaprice.org.

SAMPLE LETTER SENT BY A RELATIVE OF AN INMATE
[Date]
Honorable Eric Holder, Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20530

Copy to:
Patrick J. Fitzgerald, Special Council
U.S. Department of Justice, Northern District of Illinois
Federal Building, 219 South Dearborn Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Dear Sirs:

I am writing to request that you initiate an investigation and enforcement action under the Prison Litigation Reform
Act, 42 United States Code Section 1997a, also known as the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA).
I have a relative, [first name, last name, identification number], who is presently incarcerated in [name of facility].
He has been incarcerated there since [date of incarceration]. He has become ill with the following symptoms since the
Illinois Department of Corrections began feeding a soy-based diet in January 2003: [List symptoms].
He has not been able to get appropriate medical care from the prison staff and I am concerned about the long-term
effects of this soy diet on his health. According to information posted in the FDA’s Poisonous Plant Database and from
research published in medical journals over the past sixty years, soy has the potential to cause serious health problems,
especially if consumed in large amounts. This diet may make it impossible for [name of inmate] to engage in necessary
activities to earn his living after his release and may even cause him to have medical problems that will be very costly to
the state of Illinois.
According to law, prisoners are entitled to “nutritionally adequate food” (Ramos v Lamm, 639.2d 559, 1980). Ac-
cording to Illinois law, “Infliction of unnecessary suffering on prisoner by failure to treat his medical needs is inconsistent
with contemporary standards of decency and violates the Eighth Amendment” (Key Note 7. Criminal Law 1213).
The justification for the switch from beef to soy is to save money, but according to one court case, “A lack of financ-
ing is not a defense to a failure to satisfy minimum constitutional standards in prisons” (Duran v. Anaya, 642, Supp. 510
(DNM 1986), page 525, paragraph 6).
I urge you to look into this situation and take action to reinstate a nutritious diet for the inmates in Illinois prisons,
before the soy diet irreparably destroys their health. Sincerely yours,

[Name]
[Address]
[City, State, Zip]
84 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2009