Mr. Eugene Nuth
Warden, MCIJ
P.O. Box 549
Jessup, Maryland 20794
Dear Warden Nuth:
The purpose of this letter is to encourage you to approve inmate Doug Arey's request for a personal computer that would be paid for out of his own funds.
I have had a personal computer for home use for many years and work with them in the course of my employment as a computer consultant. These devices are very quiet, use very little electricity and have virtually no moving parts (save for a small exhaust fan). Personally speaking, I could not manage all my writing and correspondence responsibilities without one.
Mr. Arey will be using a computer in connection with a Master's degree program in Library Science which has been approved by the institution and paid for out of his own funds. As I mentioned above, I can well appreciate why a computer would be necessary to take care of the substantial workload involved. I should also point out that in the course of fulfilling the Master's program's requirements, Arey will be helping the institution and perhaps other parts of the Division of Correction as he has done in the past in connection with the literacy program (the curriculum for which is still in use at many other facilities).
In summary, I encourage you to approve Douglas Scott Arey having a personal computer in connection with his (already approved) Master's program. For the sake of comparison, security concerns would be far less than with an ordinary typewriter due to the internal design and construction. In addition, Arey's work will very likely benefit the institution, if not the entire Division. Further, since inmate Arey is financing all aspects of its use (including the Master's program itself), the institution will have gained an asset of considerable value without increasing its own budget to the least extent.
Please feel free to call me if you have any questions or require further information about personal computers in the home or at work.
Sincerely,
Nancy Moran
Volunteer
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cc: Alan Eason, Esquire
Mr. Eugene Nuth
Warden, MCIJ
P.O. Box 549
Jessup, Maryland 20794
Dear Warden Nuth:
The purpose of this letter is to lend support to Marselle Bowers' request to retrieve his "word processor" device from storage, where it has been since his transfer to MCIJ from the Penitentiary.
I have not talked to Mr. Bowers about this matter, nor has he asked me to write on his behalf. I have only heard about this situation through Douglas Arey (whose situation as well as the device requested vary). However, I am writing nevertheless because I am not only familiar with Mr. Bowers' capabilities and needs, but know precisely the device he wants approval for as well as what he used it for at the Penitentiary.
The device Mr. Bowers wants approved is only technically speaking not referred to as a "computer". It has a "dedicated" operating system, meaning it has much more limited uses than the type requested by Arey. The real distinction is that Mr. Bowers' device has a built-in printing capability integrated with the rest of the device. However, like other "computers", Bowers' device has a screen to show work in progress, is capable of recording and modifying documents, and has an integrated keyboard to input information. The device is portable but somewhat bulky due to the integrated print mechanism. At the Pen, Bowers could transport it from his cell to board room to classroom (and the security checks in between) without much difficulty.
I have come to know this information because I was Co-Editor with Mr. Bowers on the publication known as "The Legal Manual for the Maryland Prisoner". I am sure Mr. Bowers can show you a sample of this work and show specifically where his "word processor" was used to draft certain chapters. In addition, I saw that Bowers also used his device in connection with the Study and Resource Center, a project instituted and approved while Howard Rollins was Warden at the Pen. Bowers was also able to draft detailed memos, reports and like materials at the request of the administration, thus enhancing institutional management.
If you have any questions or require further information regarding Bowers' "word processor" and its use while he was at the Penitentiary, please feel free to call me. I can assure you that MCIJ has much to gain by allowing devices of this kind to be made available to the population.
Sincerely,
Nancy Moran
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cc: Alan Eason, Esquire