My husband Michael was put in the Cheyney House by his PO Steve Abganarro at the New Haven Dept. Of Adult Probation. When he was assigned his bed on Jan 19th, he noticed bugs on the sheets. Later on that evening he notices some of the bugs coming out of the headboard. Several of the other residents, along with the faculty advised him of the infestation there at Cheyney House. Many of the residents showed him severe bites on their bodies, as a matter of fact one of the residents back is covered with bites that have become infected. Michael refused to sleep in the bed, but is now being repremended for not sleeping in his bed. I called the Health Department at that time, and they sent inspectors and exterminators there, who advised the director that due to the severity of the infestation in the entire house, he had to change the furniture and bedding. Per my husband, nothing has been done and my husband is still being told that he has to sleep in that bed or return to prison. He has been bitten several times, and has captured some bugs in an evelope as proof of them still being in the bed. I feel that it is very unsanitary and a violation of the residents rights to be forced to sleep in beds where bugs are living, subjecting themselves to bites and possible infection. I know of 2 occasions that the Director was told by state inspectors to rectify the problem, but nothing has been done. I am going to seek legal advice. Two of the counselors there have admitted to the severe problem of bedbugs at the facility and said that the Director is fully aware of the problem but has refused to do anything about it and goes out his way to cover up this issue. When the inspectors came in, I was told by my husband, that they advised the Director iwith my husband and others present, that all the furniture had to be removed because of the bedbug nests found in the wood furniture, but nothing was done and they are trying to force the men and women to remain sleeping in these infested beds. Although bedbugs do not carry any diseases, a bite can cause severe infections and can cause mental effects especially to a person who has a phobia regarding bugs such as my husband. And I feel very strongly that it is wrong for a person who is trying to get his life together be given the ultimatum of sleeping in a bed infested with bed bugs or return to jail. I have spoken to his PO about moving him to another location, but his PO was told by Mr. Mahahm that the problem has been taken care of but it infact has not. As of this date, per Michael the same sheets and the same headboard is still on the bed. The residents have started a petition with hopes that this problem can be rectified. It is unsanitary and should be against health regulations to have a City/State facility in operation and forcing people to sleep with bed bugs and I feel this needs to be dealt with or have the facility closed and vacated until this problem is rectified. One of the Couselors said recently she somehow brought the bugs to her home from Cheyney House, Her daughter woke up in the night crying that something was biting her. After inspecting her daughters body, she found a bedbug on her daughter filled with blood from biting her. So now, not only do you have the bugs at the Cheyney house but they are getting on clothes of the faculty and being brought home to their houses to infect. Something has to be done and I hope that I can get assistance from filing this complaint.
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