The women's prison at Cambridge Springs, in Crawford County South of Erie in far Northwestern Pennsylvania is a sexual dungeon. The staff, especially the many male guards, habitually sexually assault the female prisoners. When not actually raping them, the men molest the women by feeling them up, peeking on them and forcing them to have sex together. The prison administration and the Pennsylvania Department of Imprisonment are happy to let the assaults continue. The prisoners are mostly minority and who cares about them? It's the "Cambridge Springs Meat Market!" A recent incident involving Janet Africa exemplifies both the conditions at the Cambridge Springs prison and the parole tactics used by "corrections" to harm prisoners. Ms Africa is part of the Move religious/social movement from Philadelphia. With eight others she was jailed in connection with Move activities which infuriated city officials back in 1978. After serving a cruel 30 years, the women are finally coming up for parole. If the prison staff can charge them with misconduct while in prison, it reduces their chances of being paroled. That's the obvious strategy. Ramona Africa, another member of the group advised us that "the guards at SCI-Cambridge Springs...are starting trouble." She goes on to describe an incident: Janet Africa was stopped by a male guard who said he wanted to pat search her.1 Janet informed him that it's against our belief to have men feeling on her body. She wanted the option of having a female guard search her, a practice approved by prison policy. Janet was taken to a female prison guard named Dover. The guard became belligerent and told Janet that she wasn't special and wasn't getting special treatment. The woman guard then told the man to take Janet back where he got her and to go ahead and search her. Janet started puting down some information on the guards. Another guard came to see what all the commotion was. The female guard then told the man that he should give Janet a misconduct and put her in the hole. This was obviously a setup from the beginning. All the prison officials know who the Move women are and recognize our belief about males searching our women. What Dover said about "special treatment" makes no sense. Move didn't make the prison pOlicy2 which allows for women prisoners to refuse to be searched by male guards and have females do the search. That is, however, the official policy. Where's the "special treatment?" Officials are aware that the Move 9 are coming up for parole. These officials are trying to provoke a situation that will be used as an excuse to deny them3 parole. That's the bottom line to what's going on and it's just beginning. We're asking people to call the prison and talk to the superintendent or leave a message for her. The number is 814-398-5400. 1A so-called "pat search" is a frisk search where the victim is handled and felt including between the legs. 2We wrote to the prison superintendent asking for official policies about feeling up the woman. We've received no reply. Pennsylvania prison officials are generally afraid to answer our questions. They don't like reading their lies in print. 3These women are now mostly in their 50s, mature and reasonable, not rebellious kids. Rebecca's Bargain Antiques Collectible Vintage Photos Fine Prints - Old Maps Sheet Music - Old Books Elegant Antiques and Collectibles "If it weren't for pickpockets, I'd have no sex life at all," Rodney Dangerfield, circa 1987 You are welcome to use or re-publish any of our material. Please give www.prisoners.com credit as the source. Return to the Parole Illusion Menu Return to the Glimpse of Prison Life Menu Return to the Prison Rape and Sex Menu Return to the Main Menu. Go to our site Search Feature. Send us Your Comments, Questions or Input.