Abstract
The Nevada CURE Records are comprised of correspondence, administrative records, case files, and research files created and collected by Mercedes Maharis from 1998 to 2009. Maharis was the founding director of Nevada CURE and co-author of the Spartacus Project Report. The collection also includes correspondence from inmates to Maharis expressing their grievances with prison personnel and the Nevada Department of Corrections as well as correspondence between Maharis and attorneys representing inmates in legal cases. This collection also contains copies of articles from
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Scope and Contents Note
The Nevada CURE records is comprised of correspondence, administrative records, case files, and research files from approximately 1998 to 2009. The records in this collection were primarily created and collected by Mercedes Maharis, director of Nevada CURE and co-author of the Spartacus Project Report, a report co-authored by Maharis and Donald Hinton Sr. that alleged widespread abuse and mismanaged records in the Nevada prison system. The collection represents the formation of Nevada CURE as an advocacy organization and the creation of the Spartacus Project Report. The collection also includes correspondence from inmates to Maharis expressing their issues with prison personnel and the Nevada Department of Corrections as well correspondence between Maharis and attorneys representing inmates in legal cases. This collection also contains copies of the
Access Note
Collection is open for research. With the exception of the Las Vegas Tribune newspaper files, access to the material is restricted to onsite use only and reproductions of any kind are not permitted (photocopies, photographs, scans, etc.). Collection is open for unrestricted research use after January 1, 2040 per donor agreement.
Publication Rights
Materials in this collection may be protected by copyrights and other rights. See Reproductions and Use on the UNLV Special Collections and Archives website for more information about reproductions and permissions to publish.
Arrangement
These records are organized into two series:
Series I. Nevada CURE files, 1998-2009
Series II. Prisoner correspondence, 1998-2009
Biographical / Historical Note
Nevada CURE (Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants) is the local branch of CURE, the international grassroots organization dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system and providing rehabilitative resources and opportunities to inmates. Nevada CURE also supports and advocates on behalf of prisoners who have been negatively affected by Nevada’s criminal justice system.
Mercedes Maharis is the former director of Nevada CURE and co-author of the Spartacus Project Report. She began teaching meditation in the Nevada state prison system in 1997. This led to Maharis advocating for inmates’ rights and the beginnings of the Nevada chapter of CURE. They presented the Spartacus Project Report to state leaders and at the December 5, 2000 Board of Prison Commissioners meeting. She co-authored the Spartacus Project Report along with Donald Hinton, Sr., a prisoner advocate whose son was incarcerated at the Indian Springs prison. The Spartacus Project Report was distributed to the Las Vegas offices of Governor Kenny Guinn, Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa, and Secretary of State Dean Heller. The report alleged that the Nevada Department of Prisons (NDOP) lacked responsibility in administering care for prisoners in a humane way and mismanaged Nevada taxpayer dollars. The Spartacus Project Report and Nevada CURE advocated for more humane treatment of inmates.
Sources:
“Report rips treatment of inmates,” Las Vegas Sun, March 9, 2001. Accessed June 16, 2016, http://lasvegassun.com/news/2001/mar/09/report-rips-treatment-of-inmates/.
Tom Gorman, “An Unlikely Advocate Seeks Prison Reform,” Los Angeles Times, August 18, 2000. Accessed June 16, 2016. http://articles.latimes.com/2000/aug/18/news/mn-6526.
Nevada Cure, accessed June 16, 2016, http://www.nevadacure.org/.
Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants, accessed June 16, 2016.
http://www.curenational.org/.
Preferred Citation
Nevada CURE Records, 1998-2009. MS-00799. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Acquisition Note
Materials were donated in 2015 by Mercedes Maharis; accession number 2015-0103.
Processing Note
Materials were processed by Tammi Kim in 2016. Thermofax papers have been copied onto bond paper for protection of content. In 2021, Sarah Jones updated the access notes per Peter Michel's (Division Director) direction based on the original agreement between UNLV General Counsel and the donor in 2015. Collection may be viewed by researchers but not reproduced by any means (photocopies, photographs, etc.).
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Storage Location
Materials are stored in the Lied Automated Storage and Retrieval Unit (LASR). Advanced notice may be required to access these materials.