The Case for Transitional Justice: Transparency, Undemocratic Institutions, and the Legitimacy Problem in American Prisons

Abigail Hencheck

The Case for Transitional Justice: Transparency, Undemocratic Institutions, and the Legitimacy Problem in American Prisons

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In July 2014, Ramon Fabian entered the Ulster Correction Facility in upstate New York as an inmate. Less than a week later, Fabian had one of his testicles surgically removed because of damage resulting from a beating administered by a prison guard, Michael Bukowski. Bukowski beat Fabian as punishment for talking during the morning head count. After the headcount ended, Bukowski took Fabian to an isolated part of the prison. There were no cameras and no fellow inmates. There, he ordered Fabian to face the wall, stretch out his arms, and spread his legs, which is commonly known as a frisk position. Bukowski then kicked Fabian between the legs, with such force that his testicle ruptured, and he had to crawl back to his cell. Bukowski then left Fabian in his cell. It was not until later, when Fabian reported to the mess hall, that a different prison guard sent him to the medical unit, and eventually to the hospital for surgery.