In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful

My Visit to SCI-Greene to see Mumia Abu-Jamal

                On Tuesday morning, June 27, 2000 - while visiting Central Pennsylvania, and after completing an interview (by telephone) with a Madison Wisconsin radio station on Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin and the government's selective use of secret evidence against a number of immigrant Muslims - I attempted to visit Mumia Abu-Jamal. Having written and spoken about Mumia's case on numerous occasions over the years, and with the recent political execution of Shaka Sankofa (aka Gary Graham), I decided that it was time for Mumia and I to meet each other face-to-face. But this was not to be.

                When I walked into the lobby of the State Correctional Institution Greene (SCI-Greene) and announced that I was there to visit an inmate on a pastoral visit, the officer on duty politely responded, "Ok, let me see your credentials," followed by, "Who is the inmate?"  When I responded Mumia Abu-Jamal, the officer looked at my identification and then back to the institution's database, and announced, "you are not listed on Mr. Jamal's visiting list."  He then had a brief conversation, by telephone, with a person who I assumed to be a commanding officer, afterwhich he re-affirmed what he had already stated... that I had to be listed on Mumia's visitors list. I then requested to see the officer in charge.

                The shift commander, Captain Mucchino, along with an officer who appeared to be his assistant came out within minutes to talk to me about the institution's policy. When I responded that this has not been my experience at any other state or federal institution in the country (where I've attempted to visit an inmate), Captain Mucchino responded that this was the policy throughout the State of Pennsylvania. When I asked to see a hard copy of the policy, I was initially told that such documents were confidential, and when I proceeded to challenge why a document on such a routine matter of visitation policy would be confidential, I was then informed that I would have to contact the Central Office in Camp Hill, Pa., for a copy of it.

                After a bit more discussion, I thanked the officers for their time and proceeded to leave. One of the things that was stated (and this is worth noting) is that pastoral visits in Pennsylvania do not count against the inmate's regular visitation allowance.  After I had driven about 15-to-20 minutes away from the institution I abruptly decided to return for one last attempt. I again asked for Captain Mucchino, and a curious thing then happened.

                The commander's assistant came out alone (the same officer who was with Mucchino the first time). I apologized for the second interruption then proceeded to note that given all of the extenuating circumstances - not the least of which is the fact that I was a five hour drive away from home - couldn't an exception be made in this one instance; and further, realizing that neither he nor Captain Mucchino could probably make such an exception, was it possible for me to speak to the person in authority who could?  The officer's next response said it all: "The highest authority in the institution (acting superintendent, Deputy Stowitsky) gave instructions before we came down the first time."  We will keep you posted how this issue develops.

El-Hajj Mauri' Saalakhan

June 2000