Since February 14, 2025, Tallie Dillard has been denied life-saving medical care and faced medical neglect in federal prison. Each day for Tallie is difficult and painful, and she doesn’t know which one might be her last.
Before her transfer to FCI Greenville, Tallie had been diagnosed with diabetes and kidney failure. She had a cyst being monitored for potential cancer development and a dangerous heart murmur. In the past year, Tallie has reported having significant difficulty breathing and abdominal pain so intense that it keeps her awake at night. Tallie has also, on multiple occasions, experienced back pain so severe that she is unable to walk. Prison staff observed this and yet made no attempts to help Tallie. Tallie asked for a wheelchair to allow her to move comfortably, but staff refused to provide one, instead giving her an insufficient cane.
Tallie has not been able to see a specialist for any of her medical issues, and Tallie’s complete medical records are nowhere to be found. Despite asking prison staff for access to personal medical files and medical care—two basic rights—prison staff have ignored and shirked Tallie’s requests over and over. Tallie consistently observes other, lighter-skinned incarcerated individuals receiving care promptly after requesting it. It is clear that Tallie is being targeted and mistreated by prison staff because of her skin color.
Tallie does not want to die. But, because Tallie has no access to medical care or her medical records, she constantly fears that her declining health will reach a breaking point, and that she will die in prison.
According to the 1976 Supreme Court decision Estelle v. Gamble, the failure of prison officials to provide adequate medical care to incarcerated individuals is a breach of duty and constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution. The behavior of prison staff towards Tallie violates not only the code of conduct for prison officials, but also federal law. Tallie deserves justice, and so far, justice has not been served. The Remedy Project has filed multiple remedies on behalf of Tallie as part of the standard Administrative Remedy process for addressing grievances. All of our remedies have been ignored. Tallie continues to suffer. It’s for this reason that we are seeking your help.
No one should have to wonder if they are going to survive or struggle through daily activities because their pleas for help are disregarded. Unfortunately, Tallie’s story is far from unique. Incarcerated people across the country are victims of medical injustice. It’s time to do better. Please support our efforts to bring justice to Tallie and the other thousands of victims of human rights violations in prisons.
Since February 14, 2025, Tallie Dillard has been denied life-saving medical care and faced medical neglect in federal prison. Each day for Tallie is difficult and painful, and she doesn’t know which one might be her last.
Before her transfer to FCI Greenville, Tallie had been diagnosed with diabetes and kidney failure. She had a cyst being monitored for potential cancer development and a dangerous heart murmur. In the past year, Tallie has reported having significant difficulty breathing and abdominal pain so intense that it keeps her awake at night. Tallie has also, on multiple occasions, experienced back pain so severe that she is unable to walk. Prison staff observed this and yet made no attempts to help Tallie. Tallie asked for a wheelchair to allow her to move comfortably, but staff refused to provide one, instead giving her an insufficient cane.
Tallie has not been able to see a specialist for any of her medical issues, and Tallie’s complete medical records are nowhere to be found. Despite asking prison staff for access to personal medical files and medical care—two basic rights—prison staff have ignored and shirked Tallie’s requests over and over. Tallie consistently observes other, lighter-skinned incarcerated individuals receiving care promptly after requesting it. It is clear that Tallie is being targeted and mistreated by prison staff because of her skin color.
Tallie does not want to die. But, because Tallie has no access to medical care or her medical records, she constantly fears that her declining health will reach a breaking point, and that she will die in prison.
According to the 1976 Supreme Court decision Estelle v. Gamble, the failure of prison officials to provide adequate medical care to incarcerated individuals is a breach of duty and constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution. The behavior of prison staff towards Tallie violates not only the code of conduct for prison officials, but also federal law. Tallie deserves justice, and so far, justice has not been served. The Remedy Project has filed multiple remedies on behalf of Tallie as part of the standard Administrative Remedy process for addressing grievances. All of our remedies have been ignored. Tallie continues to suffer. It’s for this reason that we are seeking your help.
No one should have to wonder if they are going to survive or struggle through daily activities because their pleas for help are disregarded. Unfortunately, Tallie’s story is far from unique. Incarcerated people across the country are victims of medical injustice. It’s time to do better. Please support our efforts to bring justice to Tallie and the other thousands of victims of human rights violations in prisons.
