Editor’s Note: The Texas Viewer sought TDCJ actions to this essay, which were integrated right into the item in ideal locations with the writer’s authorization.
Writer Biography: Xandan Gulley is a transgender (he/him) specific jailed under the lawful name Britney Gulley in Texas that has actually hung out in singular due to his sex identification and advocacy. Several of Xandan’s released job can be located in LGBTQ Nation, Black Lipstick, The Advocate, San Francisco Bayview, Prism, and Texas Letters.
A group of soldiers in black with combative guards and safety helmets blitzed right into the shower location resembling servicemen in a military on the field of battle. The noise of power crackling and snapping damaged the silence. The scent of melting flesh loaded the air. A prisoner, a mom, that is housed in singular arrest for psychological health and wellness diseases in the Lane Murray Device in Gatesville, was left food preparation on the shower flooring.
To me, it resembled the electrical chair was formally back in the jails.
It’s 2025 and for years the electrical chair has actually been outdated in Texas jails (It was last utilized in a 1964 implementation). Chemicals, like those splashed from gas containers or the dangerous shot, have actually been utilized to hurt, suppress, disable, and perform incarcerated individuals for over 40 years. In 2015, I saw a change begin to occur inside the jail where I had actually been jailed. Chemical representatives were being utilized much less due to the fact that guards currently had Tasers, which supply high-voltage yet low-amperage electric shocks.
Tasers have actually been promoted by the Texas Division of Wrongdoer Justice (TDCJ) as a method to deescalate possibly terrible circumstances behind bars. Bobby Lumpkin, the supervisor of TDCJ’s institutional department, declared the purchase of 450 Tasers in a September 2024 Facebook article. In reaction to a team study, the firm uploaded it ” spent around $3 million on brand-new tools for correctional policemans throughout the state. Handwear covers, flashlights, revamped drive vest[s] and air vests have actually been bought to raise the safety and security of our policemans. TDCJ is likewise releasing body electronic cameras and Tasers to 23 optimum safety and security centers.” Tasers are intended to be nonlethal alternatives for correctional policemans, nevertheless, across the country, Tasers have actually been gotten in touch with at the very least 927 fatalities through cops, according to the site Deadly Experiences.
” Please do not harm me, do not touch me, escape me!” yelled a 45-year-old female, a mom, that has actually been jailed for over a years and struggles with schizophrenia. Some days are excellent, some days misbehave. Often she’s systematic, some days she’s not.
On this specific day in 2015, she was afraid leaving the shower due to the fact that she believed a person was attempting to hurt her. She listens to voices and sees fictional individuals. The police officer working attempted to soothe her down. Her psychological health and wellness therapists attempted to convince her that no person was around or mosting likely to hurt her. Fruitless.
After concerning an hour of attempting to obtain Timmons out of the shower, Elderly Warden Audrey England appeared irritated. In my experience, this warden, that was later on moved to one more jail, is understood for having a sensitivity and has actually had actually civil fits submitted versus her by incarcerated individuals, according to my very own establishment’s legislation collection. (England’s transfer was “unconnected to grievances,” Amanda Hernandez, a speaker for the Texas Division of Bad guy Justice informed the Texas Observer through e-mail.)
In my cell upstairs, I stood at my door enjoying via the mesh home window in scary as the run-in played out in slow-moving movement listed below.
” Obtain this dumba ** out of below! Run a group,” I believed I listened to the warden state.
” Run a group” suggests wear for battle. The group, which were generally male policemans, competed right into the shower where the female in situation was nude. They were lugging Tasers and batons and after releasing those tools left her on the flooring, food preparation like a steak on a grill. It was the very first time I saw or listened to a Taser utilized behind bars.
After hours of being left on the shower flooring, Timmons was hogtied with irons and dragged to her cell nude by male policemans. Melt marks can be seen where the prongs from the Tasers baked her skin. The scent of seared flesh loaded the air.
A Taser is available in numerous types, consisting of a weapon that flashes electric prongs that connect and stay with the human skin, which shocks and burns the target. There is likewise a cops stick, which has to do with a forearm-length baton, has impressive prongs on the suggestion, and when pushed to its targets flashes power with the exact same impact as the weapon.
Hernandez, the TDCJ representative, verified through e-mail that, “There are Tasers appointed to every TDCJ center, consisting of the Murray Device.” Tasers were released in January 2024 and Taser/body video camera combinations were released at 23 centers in June 2024. She stated that TDCJ “does not make use of Taser batons or Taser rifles.”
Before Tasers were presented, this circumstance would certainly have been rather various, yet the physical violence and harmful therapy would certainly’ve stayed. Timmons would certainly’ve been splashed with gas or pepper spray and the shower location loaded with a reddish-orange haze that transforms the environment smoky, with an acidic scent. Those around that do not have safety equipment on (gas masks) can experience signs such as choking, short-lived loss of view and scent, coughing and/or spitting up. Timmons most likely would have had a nosebleed with melting eyes, yet she likewise can’ve broken down.
( TDCJ’s General Policies of Conduct do not state Tasers or stun weapons, though its use pressure plan claims: “Workers will use just the minimum quantity of pressure used in conformity with existing plans and required to attain the wanted outcomes. Using pressure to frighten, push, penalize, or for the function of vengeance is restricted.” Hernandez stated that policemans that make use of Tasers are called for to comply with the firm’s Behavioral Treatment Strategy, and to report it if they make use of Tasers. “Use pressure records are finished upon release of Tasers. These records are sent to device management and local workplaces,” she composed.)
In holding cell, several detainees experience mental diseases such as schizophrenia, bipolar, and psychosis that are intensified by long term seclusion. Those experiencing schizophrenia and various other mental illness are target technique for the Tasers daily. Timmons is not the only prisoner that has actually gone through this infraction. Psychologically sick detainees are being penalized for their emotionally unhealthy problems, punished with taser attacks, and prepared with an electrical chair weapon.
The supposed alteration remained in truth an improvement to detainee cruelty. Lawful murder to incarcerated individuals that are put behind bars with mental illness that are untreatable in singular arrest, are being maltreated unjustly and scourged with Tasers as penalty for their psychological health and wellness diseases. This is unconstitutional and savage.
TDCJ is a system of unsympathetic dehumanization. TDCJ can lawfully torture detainees. Its punishing actions are excruciating and insensible. Exactly how much is also much when it pertains to blockage of justice?
Months after the attack, Timmons has actually not coincided. She’s reserved, shy, and elusive. She does not grin, she does not speak with any individual, she’s mistrustful and she does not appeared of her cell whatsoever.
