Chelsea’s fellow inmates
, I read Yan Zhu’s recent blog posts (1, 2) about her experience visiting Chelsea Manning in prison. I realized I had no idea about Chelsea’s whereabouts or living conditions except the assumption that she is imprisoned. I was really moved by Yan Zhu’s account and wanted to learn more about Chelsea’s situation. So I started reading about the United States Disciplinary Barracks (USDB). That is the prison in which she has been [1] and where she is supposed to spend the next 32 years.
I first looked into the other inmates of that prison. I wanted to understand what people she has to spend her days with.
General notes about the population
440 inmates are imprisoned in the USDB. They were all convicted under US military law. Currently, all inmates are members of US military. In theory, prisoners of war could be held there as well. The USDB is limited to convicted officers regardless of their sentence and regular soldiers serving sentences over 10 years.
Only convicts the US military considers male are hold in the USDB. I could not find a clear definition, but it seems to be based on the gender assigned at birth. Chelsea’s case and slow developments in the Department of Justice’s guidelines might improve this in the future, though.
According to a 2013 brochure, 90% of the inmates were convicted of crimes against persons, 4% of crimes against property, 4% of drug-related offenses and 2% are imprisoned for »strictly military offenses«.[2] Sexual offenses currently account for more than half of inmates’ crimes.[2:1][3] Of those, again half are in for sex offenses against children.[4] I would expect the other roughly 40% of inmates convicted of crimes against persons to be in for murder due to the high sentences inmates serve. Hide details about crimes against personsShow details about crimes against persons
Individual inmates
Content Note: I will mention the names of the crimes people were convicted of. That includes violence and sexualized violence.
This is a very incomplete list of inmates of the United States Disciplinary Barracks. I could not verify in each case that the person is still in the USDB, but it should be the case for most.
There are 6 men on death row. I am pretty sure about these, since they are high-profile cases. The last execution in the USDB took place in 1961. Chelsea will not be able to interact with them, though, since they are not part of the prison’s regular population.
- Ronald Gray (Black, convicted in 1988) (rape and murder) Hide what Ronald Gray is convicted ofShow what Ronald Gray is convicted of
- Dwight J. Loving (Black, convicted in 1989) (murder, 2 cases) Hide what Dwight J. Loving is convicted ofShow what Dwight J. Loving is convicted of
- Hasan Akbar (Black Muslim, convicted in 2005) (murder, 2 cases) Hide what Hasan Akbar is convicted ofShow what Hasan Akbar is convicted of
- Nidal Malik Hasan (Muslim, convicted in 2013) (murder, 13 cases) Hide what Nidal Malik Hasan is convicted ofShow what Nidal Malik Hasan is convicted of
- Andrew Witt[5] (white, convicted in 2005) (murder, 2 cases) Hide what Andrew Witt is convicted ofShow what Andrew Witt is convicted of
- Timothy Hennis[5:1] (white, last convicted in 2010) (murder, 3 cases) Hide what Timothy Hennis is convicted ofShow what Timothy Hennis is convicted of
Another pretty specific category are inmates sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole (LWOP). This does not mean that they will die in the USDB, since their sentences can be commuted to regular life sentences. Afterwards, they can theoretically be paroled or get their sentences further reduced. They will definitely spend many years in prison, though. They are part of the normal prison population.
LWOP sentences have only been available in courts-martial since 1997, so the number of convictions is limited. In 2010, officials at the prison stated there were 18 men on LWOP in USDB.[6] In 2014, the Chief of Staff of the USDB said 17 inmates were convicted to life without the possibility of parole.[7] The same year, the Army News Service claimed a total number of 10 LWOP prisoners in the USDB.[3:1] In any case, the following list of 10 inmates is not exhaustive.
- Robert Bales (white christian, convicted in 2013) (murder, 16 cases) Hide what Robert Bales is convicted ofShow what Robert Bales is convicted of
- Jessie Quintanilla[5:2] (sentenced to death in 1998, resentenced to LWOP in 2010)
- Joseph Thomas[8] (convicted in 1998)
- Kenneth G. Parker[5:3] (Black, sentenced to death in 1995, resentenced to LWOP[9] in 2012)
- Harold B. Hammock, Jr.[6:1] (convicted in 2007) (rape) Hide what Harold B. Hammock, Jr. is convicted ofShow what Harold B. Hammock, Jr. is convicted of
- Joshua Adam Smith[6:2] (convicted in 2010) (rape) Hide what Joshua Adam Smith is convicted ofShow what Joshua Adam Smith is convicted of
- Montrell Mayo[10] (convicted in 2014) (murder) Hide what Montrell Mayo is convicted ofShow what Montrell Mayo is convicted of
- John Russell[11] (convicted in 2013)
- Malcolm R. Turner[12][13] (convicted in 2016) (murder) Hide what Malcolm R. Turner is convicted ofShow what Malcolm R. Turner is convicted of
- Meghan McEnerney[14] (convicted in 2014) (rape of children, three cases) Hide what Meghan McEnerney is convicted ofShow what Meghan McEnerney is convicted of
There are 2 former death row inmates whose sentences were converted to life sentences, but I do not know if it is LWOP or not.
- Wade L. Walker[5:4] (Black, sentenced to death in 1995, resentenced to life in prison in 2010[15][16])
- Curtis Allen Gibbs[5:5][17]
Most other former death row inmates got re-sentenced to life with possibility of parole. They might have moved to other prisons, though:
- James T. Murphy[5:6][18]
- Todd A. Dock[5:7]
- Turner Jr. Melvin[5:8]
- Ronnie A. Curtis[5:9][19][20] (Definitly was an inmate in the USDB in May 2000[21])
- Jose F. S. Simoy[5:10][22] (Definitly was an inmate in the USDB in May 2000[23])
Another easily recognizable group are the soldiers right-wingers call »Leavenworth 10«[24]
- Clint Lorance[25]
- Derrick Miller
- John E. Hatley
- David Lawrence
- Lawrence Hutchins[26]
- Corey Clagett
- Joseph Mayo[27]
- Michael Leahy[28]
Other probable inmates:
- Willon B. Brown[29][30][31] (sentenced to life without possibility of parole in 2000, but appeal was granted in 2006)
- Christopher Don Wood[32] (Convicted to 10 months in 2016) (attempted sexual abuse of a child) Hide what Christopher Don Wood was convicted ofShow what Christopher Don Wood was convicted of
- William J. Kreutzer, Jr.
- Calvin Gibbs[33] (life with possibility of parole) (murder, three cases) Hide what Calvin Gibbs is convicted ofShow what Calvin Gibbs is convicted of
- James P. Barker[34]
- Paul E. Cortez[34:1]
- Jesse V. Spielman[34:2]
- Erik Burns[35]
- George D. MacDonald[36] (initially LWOP in 2009, now 45 years) (murder under prescribed drug influence) Hide what George D. MacDonald is convicted ofShow what George D. MacDonald is convicted of
- Audley G. Evans II[37]
- Robert L. Person, Jr.[38] (convicted to 60 years in 2006) (murder) Hide what Robert L. Person, Jr. is convicted ofShow what Robert L. Person, Jr. is convicted of
- Ryan G. Anderson (2004) (attempting to aid and provide intelligence to the enemy, five cases) Hide what Ryan G. Anderson is convicted ofShow what Ryan G. Anderson is convicted of
- Johnny Bigmedicine[39] (convicted to 13 years in 2015) (rape) Hide what Johnny Bigmedicine is convicted ofShow what Johnny Bigmedicine is convicted of
- Shawn E. Earle[39:1] (convicted to 11 years in 2015) (theft) Hide what Shawn E. Earle is convicted ofShow what Shawn E. Earle is convicted of
- Calvin Glover[40][41] (convicted to life sentence in 1999) (murder) Hide what Calvin Glover is convicted ofShow what Calvin Glover is convicted of
- Jeremy N. Morlock[33:1] (murder, three cases) Hide what Jeremy N. Morlock is convicted ofShow what Jeremy N. Morlock is convicted of
- Dakota Wolf[42] (20 years)
- Sean Oliver[43]
- Nathaniel E. Ulroan[44] (murder, rape) Hide what Nathaniel E. Ulroan is convicted ofShow what Nathaniel E. Ulroan is convicted of
- Danny R. Griffin[45] (convicted to 20 years in 2015) (rape of child, two cases) Hide what Danny R. Griffin is convicted ofShow what Danny R. Griffin is convicted of
- Shanon L. Best[46] (convicted to 30 years in 2015) (rape) Hide what Shanon L. Best is convicted ofShow what Shanon L. Best is convicted of
- Robert E. Miller[46:1] (convicted to 12 years in 2015) (sexual abuse of child) Hide what Robert E. Miller is convicted ofShow what Robert E. Miller is convicted of
- Mark J. Winiecki[46:2] (convicted to 25 years in 2015) (rape and sexual assault of child) Hide what Mark J. Winiecki is convicted ofShow what Mark J. Winiecki is convicted of
- Scott E. Kissell[47] (convicted to 18 years in 2016) (lewd act with a child, production and possession of child pornography) Hide what Scott E. Kissell is convicted ofShow what Scott E. Kissell is convicted of
- Billy J. Smith[47:1] (convicted to 25 years in 2016) (sexual abuse of a child, multiple cases) Hide what Billy J. Smith is convicted ofShow what Billy J. Smith is convicted of
- Allan S. Barayuga[47:2] (convicted to 15 years in 2016) (sexual abuse of a child) Hide what Allan S. Barayuga is convicted ofShow what Allan S. Barayuga is convicted of
- David I. Martinez[48] (convicted to 12 years in 2016) (sexual assault and abuse of child, multiple cases) Hide what David I. Martinez is convicted ofShow what David I. Martinez is convicted of
- Marlin P. Shupp Jr.[48:1][49] (convicted to 14 years in 2016) (sexual assault of child, three cases) Hide what Marlin P. Shupp Jr. is convicted ofShow what Marlin P. Shupp Jr. is convicted of
- Cornell Hurley Jr.[48:2][50] (convicted to 25 years in 2016) (murder) Hide what Cornell Hurley Jr. is convicted ofShow what Cornell Hurley Jr. is convicted of
- Nicholas R. Carlin[48:3] (convicted to 32 years in 2016) (rape, rape of child, 13 cases, sexual abuse of child, 5 cases) Hide what Nicholas R. Carlin is convicted ofShow what Nicholas R. Carlin is convicted of
- Omar A. Velez-Pagan[51] (convicted to 30 years in 2016) (murder) Hide what Omar A. Velez-Pagan is convicted ofShow what Omar A. Velez-Pagan is convicted of
- Francisco Torrealba[13:1] (convicted to 16 years in 2016) (disobeying, sexual assault) Hide what Francisco Torrealba is convicted ofShow what Francisco Torrealba is convicted of
- Nicholas L. Frost[13:2] (convicted to 10 years in 2016) (rape of child) Hide what Nicholas L. Frost is convicted ofShow what Nicholas L. Frost is convicted of
- Andy Delvalle[13:3] (convicted to 20 years in 2016) (rape of child, two cases) Hide what Andy Delvalle is convicted ofShow what Andy Delvalle is convicted of
- David Brown[13:4] (convicted to 15 years in 2016) (rape, two cases, disobeying) Hide what David Brown is convicted ofShow what David Brown is convicted of
- Anthony R. Clark II[52] (convicted to 19 years in 2016) (rape, two cases) Hide what Anthony R. Clark II is convicted ofShow what Anthony R. Clark II is convicted of
- Anthony C. Brown Jr.[53][52:1] (convicted to 14 years in 2016) (sexual abuse of child) Hide what Anthony C. Brown Jr. is convicted ofShow what Anthony C. Brown Jr. is convicted of
- Corey N. Wall[52:2] (convicted to 15 years in 2016) (rape) Hide what Corey N. Wall is convicted ofShow what Corey N. Wall is convicted of
- Jack K. Norris[52:3] (convicted to 17 years in 2016) (rape, two cases, sexual assault, two cases) Hide what Jack K. Norris is convicted ofShow what Jack K. Norris is convicted of
This list is obviously not complete, it has about 70 names compared to 440 inmates. It probably also contains quite some errors. Still, it should give you a good idea about the people Chelsea had to spend the last years with.
http://www.leavenworthtimes.com/article/20130830/NEWS/130839903 ↩︎
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=681306 ↩︎
http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-general-upholds-maximum-sentence-for-child-rapist-1.129600 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MARINE+ACCEPTS+LIFE+BEHIND+BARS+IN+WIFE'S+KILLING.-a083829763 ↩︎
http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/us-military-latest-sentence-reversal-follows-trend-rarely-using-death-penalty ↩︎
http://gazette.com/its-life-without-parole-for-fort-carson-soldier/article/1541787 ↩︎
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/17/18312861-soldier-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-for-killing-5-at-combat-stress-clinic-in-iraq?lite ↩︎
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/local/fort-campbell/2016/04/22/man-gets-life-role-fort-campbell-soldiers-shooting/83362516/ ↩︎
Army releases results of March courts-martial at ArmyTimes ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
http://www.stripes.com/news/germany-based-army-officer-convicted-of-raping-three-daughters-1.285804 ↩︎
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article24735214.html ↩︎
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/28/justice/military-death-penalty/ ↩︎
http://www.caaflog.com/2010/05/14/another-former-military-death-row-inmate-resentenced-to-life/ ↩︎
http://articles.latimes.com/1994-07-12/news/mn-14806_1_death-row/2 ↩︎
https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Military_Law_Review/pdf-files/127-100-174%202002.pdf ↩︎
https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/DOCLIBS/ARMYLAWYER.NSF/c82df279f9445da185256e5b005244ee/4feca0c81fbcf38385256e5b0054dc1c/$FILE/Article%208.pdf ↩︎
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150396529866043&id=108057101042 ↩︎
https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/DOCLIBS/ARMYLAWYER.NSF/c82df279f9445da185256e5b005244ee/4feca0c81fbcf38385256e5b0054dc1c/$FILE/Article%208.pdf ↩︎
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/03/26/members-leavenworth-10-languish-in-military-prison-while-gitmo-detainees-freed.html ↩︎
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-hutchins-verdict-20150617-story.html ↩︎
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/21/world/middleeast/21briefs-USMEDICGUILT_BRF.html ↩︎
http://www.wtotrial.com/as-senior-army-trial-counsel-led-a-team-prosecuting-the-murder-of-a-fort-lewis-soldier-the-defendant-received-a-life-sentence-without-possibility-of-parole ↩︎
http://web.kitsapsun.com/archive/2000/11-15/0066_state_briefs.html ↩︎
https://www.jagcnet.army.mil/Portals/Files/ACCAOther.nsf/27280d2ab261c2a18525755a0074bfbd/8b3366d11a2d0dcf852571ca00646e00?OpenDocument ↩︎
http://www.dothaneagle.com/news/crime_court/former-army-colonel-sentenced-to-months-for-attempted-sexual-abuse/article_a40737e2-2cf3-11e6-9ce4-d31ced5fd9c6.html ↩︎
Mahmudiyah rape and killings in the English Wikipedia ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2927569/Former-Army-prosecutor-served-Iraq-Afghanistan-sentenced-20-years-prison-sexual-assault.html ↩︎
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/crime/article34946334.html ↩︎
http://www.stripes.com/news/ringleader-gets-life-in-slaying-of-fellow-seaman-on-okinawa-1.38209 ↩︎
http://www.jag.navy.mil/courts/documents/archive/2006/PERSON%20R.L.%20200600076%20UNPUB.pdf ↩︎
Army releases verdicts of March courts-martial at ArmyTimes ↩︎ ↩︎
http://www.calpernia.com/aboutme/soldiers-girl/killers-released/ ↩︎
http://old.seattletimes.com/html/latestnews/2023462230_wolfsentencedxml.html?prmid=4748 ↩︎
http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/oliver-sentenced-to-life-with-parole-for-killing-of-afn-broadcaster-1.326733l ↩︎
http://www.stripes.com/news/alaska-soldier-guilty-of-premeditated-murder-in-3-year-old-son-s-death-1.312197 ↩︎
Army releases results of December courts-martial at ArmyTimes ↩︎
Special and General Courts-Martial for November 2015 of the US Navy ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Army releases results of January courts-martial at ArmyTimes ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Army announces results of February courts-martial at ArmyTimes ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/fort-drum-soldiers-sentenced-for-sexually-abusing-children-20160319 ↩︎
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/local/fort-campbell/2016/03/24/fort-campbell-soldier-sentenced-25-years-nightclub-murder/82194228/ ↩︎
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3515575/Ex-US-soldier-given-30-years-killing-Panama-girlfriend.html ↩︎
Army releases results of April courts-martial at ArmyTimes ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
http://www.swoknews.com/area/court-martial-ends-prison-sentence ↩︎