Previous: First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, Aug. ’21
WELCOME to the September issue of First Amend This!
This publication provides an insider look at issues affecting the Idaho Department of Correction community. If you wish to assist this effort, share the link, cut and paste, or print and send a copy to another.
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GET INVOLVED
IDOC will be holding monthly Townhall With Leadership meetings all through 2021. Submit your questions to brightideas@idoc.idaho.gov using the subject line “Q’s for leadership,” and be sure to attend to keep the conversation going.
Offender friends and families are encouraged to join the Idaho Inmate Family Support Group (IIFSG) on Facebook, or contact them at idahoinmate@gmail.com.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Sadly, with this month comes news of a loss. One of our IIFSG admins is no longer with us. At thirty-nine years old, with two kiddos at home and a hubby stuck in Arizona, Kelly was drafted by that all-star softball team in the sky, where she’ll have untethered access to her true crime documentaries, as well as the real-time thoughts of all you heathens who have yet to perpetrate famously.
Says of her friend, Kelly’s fellow admin, Diamond, “A few years ago, right after IDOC moved the first group to Texas, Denise and I put a townhall event together… When we asked for volunteers to help research, Kelly jumped in head first. From then on we became best friends. She lit up the room whenever she walked in. She understood my brain. I feel so lost without her.”
Please join us in extending the warmest of thoughts to Kelly’s family, her friends, and all those in our community who, through her work, she touched.
In Kelly’s name we grind–let’s First Amend This!
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UNDERSTAFFING UNDERSTATED AND UNDOUBTEDLY UNSAFE
According to email records obtained by the Idaho Statesman, Idaho’s prison workers have been imploring lawmakers to address facility understaffing for months.
With concerns ranging from inmate-to-staff ratios to falling asleep while driving home after working consecutive shifts, they’ve gone so far as to call for the National Guard.
Helping to illustrate their point that current conditions are unsafe for everyone, multiple incidents early August caught the attention of Idaho news.
At the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, the same facility reported by the Statesman to have medical clinicians manning desks meant for security, a clash between 18 residents took place when staff pushed the wrong buttons, remotely unlocking their doors. One week later, according to the Statesman, a paralegal at the Idaho State Correctional Center was hospitalized following a violent attack. The very next day, under the same roof, an incident involving 22 inmates resulted, again, from a simple push of buttons. And though staff were said to have responded immediately to that incident, according to several involved in the IMSI melee, the immediate response that they saw was all of two people–not nearly enough, even with chemical agents, to prevent the ambitious from doing serious damage to each other.
With facility lockdowns occurring more frequently, amenities such as phone calls, showers and out-of-cell time become scarce. What follows is frustration widely felt among residents. The results of which is often predictable, with no shortage of witnesses, warnings and incidents in the past.
In an effort to respond to the staffing crisis, Idaho Governor Brad Little and his Department of Correction have begun boosting hourly pay and offering a range of bonuses. The incentives submitted in the the Department’s fiscal budget on September 1st will need the approval of the Legislature to continue.
Sources: Hayat Norimine, “Female Staffer Beaten by Inmate in Idaho Department of Correction Prison South of Boise “, Idaho Statesman. Ryan Suppe, “Idaho Correctional Officers Getting Pay Bump, Bonuses,” The Spokesman Review.
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IDOC GRANTS GEO $250K TO CONDUCT EXPERIMENTS ON TRAUMA-AFFECTED CITIZENS
Last November IDOC distributed $1,826,076 in CARES Act grants to several businesses licensed in Idaho. The grants were awarded to applicants whose primary function fit one of three categories: forensic peers, crisis services, and trauma intervention. The funds were to be used over an eighteen-month period to provide services as-needed to IDOC clients. This in attempt to mitigate recidivism and ease carceral overcrowding during COVID.
Of the eight applications selected by department Director Josh Tewalt and Deputy Director Bree Derrick, six were chosen for their peer support services; the other two, selected for trauma intervention.
They are as follows: the Peer Wellness Center–Boise; the Kootenai Recovery Community Center–Coeur d’Alene; the Southeast Idaho Behavioral Crisis Center–Pocatello; the Center for Hope–Idaho Falls; Recovery In Motion–Twin Falls; GEO Reentry Services–Boise; and the Crisis Center of South Central Idaho–Twin Falls.
According to guidelines set forth in the application process, the grants were not be used for alcohol, lobbying, or services not described in the Department’s request for proposals.
Curiously, conducting experiments was not only not restricted, but encouraged to the tune of $250K. That was the amount GEO was awarded to form an experimental group of trauma-affected subjects and use them to test therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Cognitive Behavioral Treatment (CBT). According to documents obtained by this reporter, GEO’s grant proposal also outlined plans for a control group’s participation in the experiment: “[I]dentified as having trauma-related issues, [the control group] will not receive EMDR treatment and will only participate in the CBT groups provided at [GEO’s] Connection and Intervention Station (CIS).”
Why a Florida-based private prison company currently holding an IDOC contract worth $4.5M feels the need to spend a $250K grant confirming the extensive bank of EMDR findings cited in not just theirs but all IDOC-CARES trauma service proposals isn’t exactly clear. Though one might suspect that by eliminating EMDR treatment for half of their clients, GEO is much more likely to meet the quota outlined in their CIS contract, which allows them to pocket the extra $225,000 previously negotiated as a performance incentive.
One might even speculate that the actual experiment is whether GEO can get away with charging for tier-level treatment the same way they do with their new halfway housing. Their first priority, after all, is taking care of their shareholders who are unlikely to see profit profit margins for halfway treatments as their foe.
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CORIZON HEALTH IS OUT, CENTURION HEALTH IS IN
IDOC’s medical provider is said to be changing from Corizon Health to Centurion Health on October 1, 2021.
According to Centurion’s website, Centurion is a leading national provider of healthcare services to justice-involved persons across 16 states, including 12 state correctional agencies.
The change in providers comes roughly a year after Corizon Health was purchased by an investment group that specializes in procuring poorly functioning companies and making improvements to upgrade their financial performance.
In November of 2020, Corizon was reported by Prison Legal News to have accumulated 660 malpractice lawsuits in the five years prior.
Centurion, a company with approximately twice as many employees as Corizon Health, has also had its share of heinous claims and lawsuits, to include a least one from none other than Corizon. Amid claims in Tennessee that Centurion has been bid-rigging contracts by paying politicians, Corizon recently filed complaints to the courts stating that the company has been treated unfairly and making accusations of Centurion involvement in scandals.
Though not quite as traumatic as losing your limbs or your loved ones due to the deliberate indifference of doctors on duty–or giving birth to your baby on a concrete slab while the nurse that you’re screaming at writes you up for faking–Corizon’s complaint does raise a few questions. Like how is Centurion bidding so much higher than its competitors and continuing to land contracts in multiple states?
Thus far, Centurion has also replaced Corizon as a DOC medical provider in Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Arizona and Florida. And the list of politicians they’ve been contributing to is long. Reading like a “who’s who” of power players in state politics, one can’t help but wonder who they’ve offered to fund here in Idaho.
Sources: Lauren Castle, “New Prison Health-Care Provider Has History of Problems, Donations to Politicians,” azcentral.com. Rudi Keller, “Missouri Prison Healthcare Contract Won By Company Accused of Bid-Rigging in Tennessee,” tennesseelookout.com. Matt Clarke, “Investment Firm Buys Corizon,” Prison Legal News.”
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A STOCKHOLM ADVOCATE INSTALLMENT
It seems like every month now we find ourselves ignored trying to seek some resolution in the way that we’ve been directed to make the request. After weeks of citing policies and navigating processes our concerns are returned with “Yeah, but so what?” It’s a culture of administrative indifference that we find to be frustrating. And we’re not alone in our frustrations, for staff have to deal with it too.
To illustrate the absurdity of it all, this month we’ve rendered twelve-pages of policy to show how our staff are encouraged to solve their problems at work.
IDOC Policy 203: Problem Solving
Idaho Code Section 67-5315 establishes an employee problem-solving procedure for any nondisciplinary, job related matters.
Here’s how it works:
Upon becoming aware of the job-related problem-solving matter, you have ten (10) working days to hold an informal meeting with your immediate supervisor. If there is no resolution to the matter, the Problem-Solving Request Form must be filed with the appropriate appointing authority within the same ten (10) working days.
Within five (5) working days of receiving the request, the appointing authority will assign it to an appropriate Level One Supervisor. The HRS director or designee and the appointing authority will then determine the appropriate supervisory level to assign based on the issue and availability of the Level One supervisor.
Within five (5) working days, or as amended in writing, after the request for problem-solving is assigned, the appropriate Level One supervisor will hold a meeting, suggest a resolution, and attach a response to the Problem-Solving Request Form before returning it to the problem-solving manager.
If you believe the Level One supervisor’s proposed solution requires further consideration, the Problem-Solving Request Form, Step 3 must be completed within five (5) working days and forwarded to the appointing authority.
Within five (5) working days of receiving the request for Level Two review, the appointing authority will assign the request for problem-solving to the Level Two Supervisor. Within five (5) working days, or as amended in writing, after assignment of the request for Level Two problem-solving, the Level Two supervisor may consult with you and your immediate supervisor separately, and then the Level One supervisor before holding a meeting and/or providing a written response with the Final Decision of the Problem-Solving Process.
If the Level Two supervisor is below the level of the appointing authority, the appointing authority will approve or amend the problem-solving decision developed at Level Two.
The Level Two supervisor will then provide you with a written response, complete Step 3 on the Problem Solving Request Form and submit the completed form, along with the Level Two supervisor’s response and solution, to the appointing authority, who will then forward it to HRS for retention.
This completes the problem solving process.
Unless, of course, you opt for mediation.
Mediation must be pursued in writing at the time of filing (Step 1) or at the beginning of Level Two (Step 3). The written request will be forwarded to the HRS director to review and forward the request to the division chief or designee for approval or non-concurrence.
If a mediator cannot be obtained in five (5) working days, the request to mediate will be declared void and problem solving will continue to the next level.
Should you believe the Department failed to grant a right and/or benefit that Idaho Code Section 67-5316 (1) (b) entitles you to, upon completion of the problem-solving procedure you may appeal the decision to the Idaho Personnel Commission within thirty-five (35) calendar days of the date the problem-solving concluded.
Refer to IDAPA 15.04.01, Rules of the Division of Human Resources and Idaho Personnel Commission (Section 201), and Idaho Code Section 67-5316 for the Appeal Procedure.
Because problem-solving timeframes are designed to expedite the resolution, failure to comply with the timeframes mandated by this policy may result in your loss of the right to continue the problem-solving process.
I mean, c’mon. Is there no better way to inspire problem-solving at work?
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PRISON FOOD SUPPLY DISRUPTED, PREPARE TO EAT YOUR CELLIE.
by J. Tyler, Dietary Manager
As you may have heard in the news: due to pandemic shutdowns, droughts, labor shortages, shipping port congestion, and a backlog of trucking schedules, the manufacturing and delivery of goods has greatly slowed. And all these factors come at a time when stimulus money has increased consumer demand for goods, so the overall demand is greater than supply, and the U.S. is stuck playing catch up.
What this means for IDOC is that although there is enough food and other consumables available, there isn’t always the full quantity of specific items available to us, and deliveries of certain goods are being delayed.
As we work through this situation (which is expected to last at least through the end of the year), you may see “menu substitutions” at your facility. We will do our best to communicate “menu changes” in advance, but we are often not given advance notice of delivery changes. Please know that I am working daily with “our suppliers” to ensure that our menus have as much variety as possible, and I review every item change to ensure “nutrient standards” continue to be met. There is plenty of “food” to go around, it just may not always be what is on the “standard menu.”
We ask for your understanding and your patience while we serve you new Unknowns.
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POLICIES, RECORDS AND REASONABLE EXPLANATIONS–JOIN AS WE HUNT FOR THEM IN AUDITING 101.
For all of our up-and-coming auditors out there, we’ve still not been able to obtain an active policy that establishes the criteria and procedures for periodic review of inmates in long-term restrictive housing, criteria and procedures for the release of inmates from long-term restrictive housing, and the guidelines to ensure that RHU residents receive three or more hours out-of-cell time daily.
A recent request for the last available draft of Long-Term Restrictive Housing Policy 319.02.01.003 was returned with a response suggesting one doesn’t exist. We know this isn’t true, for we’ve preciously procured a physical copy of the 2018 document, and it’s referenced by number in the current version of Policy 319.02.01.001.
Another request asking specifically for the guidelines referenced by Policy 319 was returned with a 2011 version of 319.02.01.001, which residents no longer have access to. Which is curious considering how the 2018 version we’re now using is missing the criteria, guidelines and procedures in question.
Public records misdirection and outright refusals are becoming more frequent as we make requests. We’re beginning to suspect that we’re not the only ones misdirected. So, be sure to note if your requests are returned with items missing or with conflicting dates and data.
As a reminder, per Public Records Requests Policy 108.00.01.00, the day-to-day business operations of the Department are to be made available upon request. This includes the Board of Correction meeting minutes, legislation, contracts, budget information, financial records, correspondence, policies and SOPs, program information and program audits.
So if you’re among those who, say, have been refused 2021’s Board of Correction meeting minutes because they have yet to be posted, you might want to try submitting a new request for all the notes, drafts and emails composed at the time of the meeting.
Please note that grievances regarding public records refusal will not be processed, but responded to with this: “[Y]ou have the right to appeal the denial of your request by filing a petition in conformance with the provisions of Idaho Records Law, Title 74, Chapter 1, Idaho Code. The petition must be filed in the Fourth Judicial District Court of the State of Idaho within one hundred eighty (180) calendar days of the date of mailing this notice.”
Resident auditors are asked to keep copies of their findings, as well as their grievances, for future collaborations.
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COVID NEWS
Since the start of COVID, approximately 43,000 tests have been administered to IDOC residents, while zero have been administered this year to Idaho inmates housed in Arizona. More than 5,200 have identified positive and a total of six deaths have been reported as COVID-related.
Approximately 74% of IDOC residents were fully vaccinated in June. Those who refused the first round of vaccinations were told they’d be offered again in approximately one month. This has yet to happen at IMSI. Other facilities may be waiting as well.
At least 52 of the 410 residents housed at the Northern Idaho Correctional Institution tested positive this month.
It was announced early August by Director Tewalt that the Department will begin pausing demobilization activities to protect from the Delta variant, now found in our facilities. That said, we hear that SICI and ISCI are open for visiting.
ACLU Idaho and the law firm Shearman & Sterling will remain in close contact with IDOC while continuing to monitor all COVID-related issues. Those with concerns are invited to forward their grievances to:
ACLU Idaho
PO Box 1987
Boise, ID 83701
View IDOC’s COVID numbers here.
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RENICK ON THE RADIO
With over 100 episodes available for streaming, Mark Renick hosts Victory Over Sin on Boise’s KBXL 94.1FM, Saturdays at 12:30 pm.
This month Chief of Prisons Chad Page discussed his path through Corrections to the post he’s at now and shared new approaches being taken by the current administration.
Best-selling author in recovery Jason Combs presented his experience, outlooks, sobriety and faith. Jason currently works with Brick House Recovery, a faith-based center that provides mid-level care for people coming out of residential treatment or incarceration–located in Boise and Idaho Falls. Contact Jason at The Recovery Movement on Facebook or info@brickhouserecovery.com.
Heidi Barker, a recovery coach for St. Vincent de Paul’s RECON program, discussed her recovery coach training, her background, and her long list of qualifications that make her perfect for the job.
Mark works with a reentry effort under an advocacy arm of St. Vincent de Paul. Learn more @ svdpid.org and systemicchangeofid.com.
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IN THE FORUMS
According to members of the Idaho Inmate Family Support Group, ISCC Warden Ramirez has announced on social media that he and ICSI Warden Christensen will soon be retiring.
It’s said that IMSI’s Warden Davis will then to be moving to ISCI, while ISCI’s deputy warden of operation will be finding a place at IMSI. Meanwhile, the deputy of security from ISCI is expected to move to SBWCC, though it’s not yet clear the position they’re assuming.
It appears we’re preparing to move some more to Arizona. With emails sent and property packed, the number awaiting transit is currently unknown.
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INMATE SERVICES AT WORK
8-17-21
To: IDOC Executive Financial Officer
I’ve been trying to track down where all our inmate donations go — the property items we “donate” following their confiscation. I recently submitted a public records request for the list of charities we’ve been donating to, the criteria by which they’re chosen, and at least one receipt showing a charitable transaction has taken place. My public records request was returned with “no records found.” Can you please help me understand this? We’ve done a great deal of “donating” for an awful lot of years, and it seems rather odd there are no records to be found.
–Patrick Irving 82431
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MORE ON IDAHO’S PRISON PROBLEMS
Feel free to check these links for some additional perspective.
Idaho Inmate Family Support Group
idahojusticeproject.org
jailmedicine.com
idahoprisonarts.org
idahoprisonproject.org
svdpid.org/advocacy-systemicchangeofid
idahoprisonblog.blogspot.com
www.idoc.idaho.gov
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That it’s for the month. Thank you again for your audience. Stay out of trouble the best that you can and we’ll do it again in October.