.jpg)
On Monday, May 6, 2024, five different correctional officers in the USP Tucson Segregation Unit attacked and sexually assaulted Mr. Bobby Lee Seely, Jr., a father sentenced to prison. Directly following the assault, one officer told Mr. Seely that if he ever mentioned a word about what had happened, he would not see his release date. Another told him that if he opened his mouth, he would leave on his scheduled release date in a body bag. And yet, another one told him “you’re my bitch now” as he stood naked and isolated. Following the assault, he was placed in a cell with no clothing or mattress, then denied medical assistance from the multitude of injuries the assault resulted in. The repercussions? One of the officers, CO Medina, was promoted.
For over a year, Mr. Seely faced harassment and threats from staff members, prolonging the effects of the trauma from his initial assault. Living in constant fear for his life, Mr. Seely filed a complaint under PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act. He eventually was able to receive medical treatment for the injuries sustained during the assault. However, this one break did not last long. On June 15, 2024, the warden denied Mr. Seely earned time credits, further delaying his release by another year. He and The Remedy Project both believe this is in retaliation for his PREA complaint. A day after, two of the officers who assaulted Mr. Seely told another individual incarcerated that Mr. Seely was a “rat” and needed to be stabbed.
After hearing of this vile news, Mr. Seely reported to his unit team that there was a threat against his life. They responded without flinching. Correctional officers in the BOP often describe themselves as a “wolf pack”. They protect one another at all costs, and a complaint against one officer is seen as an affront to the “pack”. They also know that most of the time, they will not be held accountable for their abuse. Since the passage of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) in 1994, prisoners themselves are solely responsible for initiating a process of legal accountability through the administrative remedy process.
Due to these events, Mr. Seely feared for his safety, becoming terrified and panicked outside of his cell. He did not eat properly. Everyday he wondered if he would make it out of USP Tucson alive. Mr. Seely wrote this to the staff psychologist at USP Tucson:
I am having stresses to my mental health in major effects ever since my sexual assault here by five staff members in the segregation housing unit. I am very paranoid of getting killed now. Because my attackers threatend to kill me if i told anyone about the assault. They took great measures to try cover up with the help of other staff members here at tucson- USP. Even the medical staff have been key players to down play and deny me the Due process of the law and protections of policys. I am very paranoid and tired. I havent been able to sleep at night because of having nightmares of them getting me and killing me. I do not know who i can trust for my mental health care and request to be sent out to a local doctor for my PTSD. I have not eaten. I am scared to walk to the chow hall. Because the officers that sexually assaulted me told other inmates to hurt me and are still harassing me. Intimidating me and glaring very mean. I need help from pyschology as soon as possible
This is where The Remedy Project came in. The Remedy Project helped Mr. Seely submit a BP-10 to the Western Regional Office, which was confirmed as delivered. Here is what Mr. Seely said in response in an email to our students:
Thank you all over there the the Remedy Project. Lets see if we can get some kind of response back. You all are doing such a good job. That these people who call their self the Department of Justice. They are running from the justice that is demanded for my assault and sexual assault. It's good that we all have a our files somewhere safe.
The students at Remedy does not stand for these kinds of flagrant abuses. Unfortunately, stories similar to Mr. Seely’s exist at every corner of the carceral state. We applaud Mr. Seely’s bravery to stand up against these abuses, and encourage all of our supporters to do the same.
On Monday, May 6, 2024, five different correctional officers in the USP Tucson Segregation Unit attacked and sexually assaulted Mr. Bobby Lee Seely, Jr., a father sentenced to prison. Directly following the assault, one officer told Mr. Seely that if he ever mentioned a word about what had happened, he would not see his release date. Another told him that if he opened his mouth, he would leave on his scheduled release date in a body bag. And yet, another one told him “you’re my bitch now” as he stood naked and isolated. Following the assault, he was placed in a cell with no clothing or mattress, then denied medical assistance from the multitude of injuries the assault resulted in. The repercussions? One of the officers, CO Medina, was promoted.
For over a year, Mr. Seely faced harassment and threats from staff members, prolonging the effects of the trauma from his initial assault. Living in constant fear for his life, Mr. Seely filed a complaint under PREA, the Prison Rape Elimination Act. He eventually was able to receive medical treatment for the injuries sustained during the assault. However, this one break did not last long. On June 15, 2024, the warden denied Mr. Seely earned time credits, further delaying his release by another year. He and The Remedy Project both believe this is in retaliation for his PREA complaint. A day after, two of the officers who assaulted Mr. Seely told another individual incarcerated that Mr. Seely was a “rat” and needed to be stabbed.
After hearing of this vile news, Mr. Seely reported to his unit team that there was a threat against his life. They responded without flinching. Correctional officers in the BOP often describe themselves as a “wolf pack”. They protect one another at all costs, and a complaint against one officer is seen as an affront to the “pack”. They also know that most of the time, they will not be held accountable for their abuse. Since the passage of the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) in 1994, prisoners themselves are solely responsible for initiating a process of legal accountability through the administrative remedy process.
Due to these events, Mr. Seely feared for his safety, becoming terrified and panicked outside of his cell. He did not eat properly. Everyday he wondered if he would make it out of USP Tucson alive. Mr. Seely wrote this to the staff psychologist at USP Tucson:
I am having stresses to my mental health in major effects ever since my sexual assault here by five staff members in the segregation housing unit. I am very paranoid of getting killed now. Because my attackers threatend to kill me if i told anyone about the assault. They took great measures to try cover up with the help of other staff members here at tucson- USP. Even the medical staff have been key players to down play and deny me the Due process of the law and protections of policys. I am very paranoid and tired. I havent been able to sleep at night because of having nightmares of them getting me and killing me. I do not know who i can trust for my mental health care and request to be sent out to a local doctor for my PTSD. I have not eaten. I am scared to walk to the chow hall. Because the officers that sexually assaulted me told other inmates to hurt me and are still harassing me. Intimidating me and glaring very mean. I need help from pyschology as soon as possible
This is where The Remedy Project came in. The Remedy Project helped Mr. Seely submit a BP-10 to the Western Regional Office, which was confirmed as delivered. Here is what Mr. Seely said in response in an email to our students:
Thank you all over there the the Remedy Project. Lets see if we can get some kind of response back. You all are doing such a good job. That these people who call their self the Department of Justice. They are running from the justice that is demanded for my assault and sexual assault. It's good that we all have a our files somewhere safe.
The students at Remedy does not stand for these kinds of flagrant abuses. Unfortunately, stories similar to Mr. Seely’s exist at every corner of the carceral state. We applaud Mr. Seely’s bravery to stand up against these abuses, and encourage all of our supporters to do the same.
