Prison health-care revelations lead to a shocking silence

The extraordinary four-part News Journal series about myriad problems within the Department of Correction health care system cries out for response from the governor and state lawmakers.

The series detailed the spread of AIDS and other infectious diseases inside the prisons, high-rates of suicides and AIDS-related deaths, minimal oversight of medical care and numerous reports of inadequate medical attention to inmates' conditions.

But instead of outcries, with only a few exceptions, the public is confronted with a deafening silence. Those whose legislative record would suggest they would embrace concern for the plight of inmates victimized by substandard health care are mute. Where are the liberal Democrats like Sens. Harris McDowell, Karen Peterson and Robert Marshall? Where is Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who vowed last year to aggressively address prison correction officers' low pay and mandatory overtime?

So far, we've heard from two potential Republican gubernatorial candidates, Sen. Charles Copeland of Greenville and House Majority Leader Wayne Smith of Brandywine Hundred, and conservative Sussex Democratic Sen. Robert Venables of Laurel. They certainly aren't among the usual cast of characters lobbying for prisoners' rights. The three called for various levels of investigations.

Democrat Rep. Hazel Plant of Wilmington wants Correction Commissioner Stan Taylor fired and an outside investigation. Two other Republican officials, U.S. Attorney Colm Connolly and state Public Defender Lawrence Sullivan spoke out. Mr. Connolly said he passed on complaints. At least Mr. Sullivan has standing on the prison health issues since many of his clients have been affected.

The silence of Gov. Minner and her Democratic leaders brings to mind the governor's comment last year in the wake of a kidnapping-rape-hostage incident involving prison counselor Cassandra Arnold. "This isn't something that is unique to Delaware," the governor said. "In prisons, you almost expect this to happen."

No, governor, we didn't then, and we don't now.