Action Alert for Jay Chase

Action alert for Jay Chase
May 25, 2015

Please accept our apologies for the sparse updates that have come out the last couple of months regarding Jay Chase.

As you may know, Jay received a one year sentence after pleading in Cook County to assault on a correctional officer. We support Jay in pleading out to one year versus rolling the dice and potentially getting 3-5 more years tacked on his sentence. His judge in that case was the same as in the original NATO 3 entrapment case and no one had any thoughts that this time, he would be fair, or cognizant of Jay’s terminal illness he struggles with daily (Huntington’s Disease).

To make matters worse, Jay recently found out he lost one full year of good time which pushes his release date back to November 6, 2017. This loss of good time is based on incident reports or ‘tickets’ Jay received while vigorously and persistently demanding treatment for the terminal illness and Hepatitis C. It is a cruel irony that the Illinois Department of Corrections not only medically neglects its own prisoners but then punishes anyone for speaking out and demanding treatment. This is about neglect and indifference that is bigger than Jay’s specific case- a point he makes clearly in letters sent out from solitary, which brings us to the reason for this dispatch.

Below are two letters from Jay that he sent out to supporters in the last month. In it, he details the mistreatment he has received at the hands of his captors. Not only do they describe an obvious pattern of medical neglect but also, outright assault on Jay. Options are being investigated but what we need is your help. Please read these letters, let it sink in and do not forget: Jay is still in these cages, surrounded by people who could not care less whether he lives or dies, by people who have assaulted him and yet, he is still brave enough to write and speak out.

Will you do the same for Jay? We have 3 ‘asks’ right now that are listed below that are pretty straightforward and easy. Make a few phone calls. Share an event on facebook. Tell the media about what is happening behind those walls and demand they cover it. Let remind those that hold the keys that Jay is not alone, that he has a whole community of people out here that has his back and is not happy about the assault of our friend, of our comrade, of our brother.

Many people have asked how to help or expressed frustration at their inability to help. Well, here is your opportunity. Make a few calls and emails. Let Jay know you are out here and care. These things we ask are acts of solidarity- to let him and his captors know he is not alone and he needs medical treatment now. If they are unable to do that, they should release him to our care. If you do not know much about Jay, the NATO3 case or what happened in 2012 when an out of control Chicago PD with the blessing and initiative of one
deposed Anita Alvarez went buck wild and entrapped three activists to make good media for themselves, check out

https://freethenato3.wordpress.com
https://www.facebook.com/Free-the-NATO-3-172345546229824/

Thank you in advance for your time and solidarity!
Jay Chase Support Crew
freethenato3@gmail.com

Note: X is used in place of an individual’s name due to our very real concern that Jay will be retaliated against.

Letter from Jay Chase
April 2016

On the morning of December 3rd, 2015, at around 9:00am, I was called for a healthcare pass. The officer doing my transport told me I had to put my cell in compliance or I wouldn’t be allowed to go. After arguing with him for a while, he called the X. After arguing with X for a while, he left my cell (N-740) and went to stand in front of my neighbor’s cell (N 741) and talked with him for a while.

After he left, I spit out in front of my cell and he said ‘nice try’. The X and Y came awhile later and told me to cuff up and go downstairs which I did. After my cell was moved to N-341, X followed me into my cell and while I was kneeling to take the shackles off, X tackled me from behind into the ground face first. He repeatedly smashed my face into the concrete so hard and so man time he broke my nose, smashed my front teeth though my lip, splitting my lips. I had two black eyes, my face was completely swollen, my
cheek bone was broken and there was blood coming from my mouth, nose and ear. My nose did not heal, my cheek is still broken and my teeth are now loose and crooked.

It has been 4 months and I have not received any medical attention. I have not seen a nurse, doctor or even a psych worker since this happened. I am denied my basic right to health care. I also have Hepatitis C and Huntington’s Disease and am receiving no medical care or attention at all.
Jared Chase

Letter from Jay Chase to pen-pal
5.12.2016

I just want to give a quick update. I am still not receiving any medical treatment. It’s been 6 months since my nose was broken. I am still being denied treatment. Now I have a sinus infection, my nose is infected and I am getting terrible aches and migraines. Now I am also not even receiving my medication. I am not getting any medication for my Huntington’s Disease, Hep-C or my broken nose, or anything. I am still not getting my psych meds either.
Thank you.

—————————–
This is what we are asking you to do:

1) Demand Jay Chase get medical care NOW

Call/fax/write and politely make the request that Jared Chase M44710 receive medical treatment for a broken nose sustained in December as well as treatment for Huntington’s Disease and Hepatitis C.
Michael Melvin, Acting Warden
Phone: (815) 842-2816 or Fax: (815) 842-3420
Pontiac Correctional Center, POB 99, Pontiac, IL 61764

2) Help Jay get his good time reinstated NOW

Jay lost one full year of good time while being held in solitary
confinement at Pontiac Correctional.

Please call, email or write the Illinois Department of Corrections and ask that they reinstate Jared’s good time so he can get out earlier than expected. Jared lost his good time by getting ‘tickets’ at Pontiac, a result of his constant demands for health care and treatment for his Huntington’s Disease and Hepatitis C.
http://www.illinois.gov/idoc/contactus/Pages/default.aspx
(217) 558-2200 x 2008

Illinois Department of Corrections
1301 Concordia Court
P.O. Box 19277, Springfield, IL 62794-9277

Illinois Department of Corrections
James R. Thompson Center
100 West Randolph, Chicago, IL 60601

3) Send Jay a birthday card by June 12th

Jay’s birthday is June 12th and it has been a very tough year for him. Between being in a solitary cell all of the last year, getting indicted for
assault on a guard, having his sentence extended by one year and losing a full year of good time, Jay sure can use some birthday cheer!

In the weeks to come, let’s flood Jay with birthday love. Please send Jay a card, a letter, some photos or even a book (though we understand he has tons at the moment).

Write:
Jared Chase M44710
Pontiac Correctional Center
PO Box 99
Pontiac, Illinois 61764

Send books via amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/1ZYU2MW7KDDON/ref=cm_sw_su_w

Send 99 cents postcards via flixshop https://www.flikshop.com/

Lets show the jailers how much support Jay has from our community and remind him we have his back through this sentence and beyond!

If you can please share the Birthday Blitz for Jay event on facebook and invite people:
https://www.facebook.com/events/619609968192236/