Families Demand Congressional Action Amid Escalating Human Rights Crisis at FCI Thomson

Washington, D.C, District of Columbia (Issuewire.com)  -  

Families of individuals incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution Thomson (FCI Thomson) are once again calling for immediate federal intervention following a series of extended lockdowns and reports of ongoing human rights abuses within the facility.

Since January 2024, FCI Thomson has experienced six extended lockdowns lasting between 8 and 31 days each. These lockdowns have occurred without prior warning or clear justification, causing severe distress and uncertainty for inmates and their families.

During these lockdowns, inmates have reportedly been confined to their cells for 24 hours a day without access to phone calls, showers, recreation, adequate food, or basic hygiene necessities. This has led to growing alarm about the deteriorating physical and mental health conditions inside the prison.

Christine Amador, spokesperson and founder of The FCI Thomson Loved Ones Coalition, representing over 275 affected families, stated, “This isn’t just neglect—it’s systematic abuse. We’ve been gaslit and ignored for more than 11 months by the Bureau of Prisons, regional staff, and political leaders who’ve repeatedly told us it’s being handled. It clearly isn’t.”

Despite numerous formal complaints, families say their concerns have been routinely dismissed or redirected back to the very institution accused of abuses, amplifying their frustrations and eroding trust in the system.

In a troubling recent development, FCI Thomson announced new “modified operations” beginning March 31, enforcing lockdown conditions every Tuesday and Thursday after mainline, regardless of inmate behavior or threat level. This unexplained routine confinement has intensified concerns over the management and policies at the facility.

Alarmingly, reports also indicate that eight staff members at FCI Thomson have overdosed while on duty in the past six months, highlighting a severe internal crisis.

The FCI Thomson Loved Ones Coalition is urgently calling for:

• Congressional sponsorship and swift passage of the Federal Prison Oversight and Lockdown Accountability Act (FPOLA Act) to immediately end abusive lockdown practices and enforce accountability within the Bureau of Prisons.

• A comprehensive federal investigation into the repeated unexplained lockdowns and documented human rights violations at FCI Thomson.

• Genuine accountability and transparency from the Bureau of Prisons and regional officials.

• Independent oversight mechanisms to prevent further abuses and ensure transparent and humane treatment within all federal facilities.

“We’ve followed every protocol and documented everything. We cannot and will not allow this abuse to be ignored any longer,” emphasized Amador.

Take Action:

Support our fight for justice and accountability by signing our petition urging Congress to pass the Federal Prison Oversight and Lockdown Accountability Act (FPOLA Act). Together, we can end abusive lockdowns, protect human rights, and hold the Bureau of Prisons accountable.

Sign and share the petition now

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

The FCI Thomson Loved Ones Coalition

mailto:thomsonadvocates@gmail.com

Families Call for Accountability Over Continued Lockdowns and Abuse at FCI Thomson

Media Contact

The FCI Thomson Loved Ones Coalition thomsonadvocates@gmail.com