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Problems in Prison:

Costello v. Wainwright

Kelsey Cohen Senior Division Individual Website

Process Paper I decided on my topic after hearing that in the entire world, 25% of all prisoners are the United States. It made me wonder about prison overcrowding and prisoner rights. I met an attorney who had represented the rights of Florida inmates for over twenty years. He described how six inmates would be placed in a single cell, locked in solitary for years, and deprived of medical care. He said the main plaintiff was still in prison after over thirty years. I knew my topic: Problems in Prison: Costello vs Wainwright. There are no documentaries about Costello vs. Wainwright. This famous prisoner civil rights lawsuit has little information available on the internet either. Yet it stands as the most cited legal case when prisoner rights are discussed nationwide. After reading the many legal decisions made between 1972 and 1993, I began identifying the many attorneys involved with the case. I visited the Florida Archives and obtained photo copied originals of reports, letters, and photos. I knew expert interviews would also be important. I contacted four attorneys who had represented Costello and obtained additional documents and insight. I was nervous and excited when I interviewed former US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens . Although he only decided a technical issue regarding the case he was aware of the facts and stated today we risk violating the same rights Costello fought so hard to protect. I also wrote Michael Costello himself in prison. However, no state officials would talk with me. I realized how politically sensitive the issue of prisoner rights continues to be even today. I knew that the multimedia material I had collected as part of my research was perfect for creating a website. I found Weebly easy to learn. I outlined my issue, drew out blueprints of my pages and started writing paragraphs to go into my website. I selected key quotes and news articles to support my position. Finally, I found and edited photos, audio and video to show why the Costello case is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago. When Michael Costello sued Florida Prison Superintendent Louie Wainwright four decades ago, severe overcrowding, violence, lack of medical care and segregation were the norm in prisons. Legally, that should have changed over the following decades. But from my research, I showed that by failing its responsibility to protect prisoners rights, Florida violated the human and civil rights of thousands of incarcerated men and women.

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