Previous: First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, Dec. ’22
Welcome to the January edition 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, copy and paste, or print and send this issue to another.
Loved ones are encouraged to join the Idaho Inmate Family Support Group (IIFSG) on Facebook or contact the group’s admins at idahoinmate@gmail.com.
Looking to help improve Idaho’s criminal justice system? We ask that you contact Erika Marshall with the Idaho Justice Project. The Idaho Justice Project works to bring the voices of people impacted by the criminal justice system to the legislative table to work on solutions.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
As a member of the Prison Journalism Project (PJP), I recently earned an opportunity to participate in an advanced nonfiction writing workshop led by two amazing industry professionals:
Bill Keller worked at The New York Times for 30 years as a correspondent, editor and op-ed columnist. He was the founding editor of The Marshall Project. He has taught journalism seminars at Princeton University, as well as at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York (briefly, until the COVID shutdown). He is the author of “What’s Prison For?” published in October 2022.
Shaheen Pasha is co-founder and chief education officer of Prison Journalism Project. She is an assistant teaching professor at Penn State University and a veteran journalist with over 20 years of experience at news outlets that include CNN and Thomson Reuters. She has extensive experience teaching incarcerated students throughout the country.
Having committed to devoting myself to this workshop, I will still do my best to keep you apprised in coming months of Idaho prison news by offering an abbreviated version of this newsletter.
Thank you for understanding that all changes are temporary and made in the interest of allowing me to become a better journalist.
Let’s First Amend This!
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CENTURION SUES TO PREVENT PAYOUTS FOR PRISONERS DEATHS FROM BECOMING PUBLIC RECORD
IDOC’s current health care provider is prepared to spend big money keeping the cost of its negligence secret.
On November 14, 2022, Centurion, the health care provider for Idaho prisons, filed a lawsuit in Florida’s Putnam County court seeking to prevent the Human Rights Defense Center (HRDC) from obtaining the settlement of a case filed by the estate of a prisoner killed through the company’s negligent practices.
For over three decades, the HRDC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has published legal resources, self-help guides and educational materials aimed at assisting incarcerated persons. This in addition to presenting legal challenges to policies and actions that harm prisoners and their loved ones.
HRDC founder and editor Paul Wright wrote of the lawsuit in the December issue of Prison Legal News, one of the organization’s two monthly publications, “Suits against media entities to intimidate us and prevent us from carrying out our news gathering and reporting functions are called Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP). In 32 years, this is the first time we have been sued by the prison profiteers we report on. We must be doing something right.”
In the short time that Centurion has acted as the health care provider for Idaho prisons, this newsletter has reported on the company struggling to distribute chronic-care medications, falsifying tuberculosis test results and excessively charging its patients.
Source: Paul Wright, “From the Editor,” PLN (Dec. ’22).
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WEEK ONE, DAY ONE BREAKFAST
Men/Women
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Brown Flakes 2 oz / 2 oz
Biscuits 4 oz /2 oz
Country gravy 1 cup / .5 cup
Scrambled eggs 4 oz / 3 oz
Sugar packets 2 / 1
Milk 16 oz / 16 oz
Fresh Fruit 1 / 1
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NEW DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THE SUBJECT OF STAFF IRE
Atlas–the IDOC’s new offender management system, was implemented to streamline data and make the lives of workers easier. On the record, employees say the system has been difficult to work with; off the record, that piece of shit is a waste of time and money.
According to a survey conducted among IMSI staff, the load time is slow, the interface is challenging and the procedures for updating data require too much third-party involvement. “It kind of has the feel of an early-internet website,” reported one prison employee who prefers to remain anonymous.
Though the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole (ICPP) didn’t participate in the survey, it did post notice of problems with Atlas online. “The December 2022 Action Taken will be delayed due to technical difficulties with our Offender Management System. We are now working diligently to get this posted as soon possible. At this time we do not have an estimate when the decisions will be posted. We appreciate your patience and understanding.”
The December Notices of Action Taken were eventually posted on January 6th, 2023.
It unclear what Atlas cost or how long it will take to bring the system up to speed.
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WEEK ONE, DAY ONE LUNCH
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Super muffin
Men 2 each
Women 1 each
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A MESSAGE FROM THE IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE CORRECTIONS
Do you suspect your child might have a disability?
The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections is responsible to locate, refer and identify all children who are suspected of having a disability and are enrolled in our school.
If a child is having significant difficulty with vision, hearing, speech, behavior, is experiencing slow development typical for his/her age, physical impairments, or learning difficulty, he/she may be a child with a disability. Identification and intervention is essential to help ensure school success.
If you suspect your progeny of harboring a disability, please report them immediately to: juniperhills@idjc.idaho.gov or 208-334-5100.
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WEEK ONE, DAY ONE DINNER
Men/Women
________________________________
Roast beef 4 oz / 3 oz
Mashed potato 1/2 cup / 1/2 cup
Peas 3/4 cup / 3/4 cup
Bread 2 oz/ 1 oz
Margarine patties 2 / 1
Pumpkin pie 1 / 1
Fruit 1/2 cup / 1/2 cup
Gravy 1/4 cup / 1/4 cup
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IF CHRISTMAS IN THE CLINKER WASN’T ALREADY COLD ENOUGH…
Residents of the Idaho State Correctional Center found themselves showering in cold water for the second half of December after all three of the facility’s water boilers broke down in the course of a week.
Boise’s KTVB News reported receiving numerous reports from callers concerned with residents’ welfare.
Approached for comment by reporters, IDOC Public Information Officer Jeff Ray responded in an email that the first water boiler went down on December 17 and the other two followed one week later on Christmas Eve. All three boilers, he wrote, were expected to be resuscitated by early January. In the meantime, the Department would be looking to shower its residents in trailers.
Source: Tracy Bringhurst, “Idaho State Correctional Center’s Hot Water Boilers Are Busted,” KTVB.com
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AN UPDATE ON COMMISSARY
The newest commissary pricelist for Idaho prisons can now be viewed online at bookofirving82431.com.
Presented as “The New Commissary Pricelist for Idaho Prisons and the Methodical Obstruction of Record Requests and Grievances,” the updated list reflects the return of several high-demand products at two to three times the price paid as recently as April.
In response to April’s pubic records request for the market data that Keefe was required to provide the IDOC prior to increasing its prices in May, the IDOC produced a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from December 2022.
Because the Keefe Commissary Network would have had to travel through time to supply the IDOC with December’s CPI prior to May, it appears as though the Department is either indifferent to the standards established within the Keefe contract or is simply failing to conform to the Idaho Public Records Act.
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ISCI PROVIDES PRISONERS WITH INFORMATION TO PREPARE THEM FOR RELEASE
Thanks to the smart work of correctional case managers Dawna Clemo and Bethany Ciofalo, prisoners preparing for release from ISCI may now expose themselves to community resources in the recently opened Center of Hope.
Located in the facility’s education building, the Center of Hope provides prisoners with information on employment, aftercare, housing, mental health services and more.
Case managers Clemons and Ciofalo are now challenging other facilities to open similar centers, and they are willing to make it easy for any wardens who give them a call.
Source: ISCI Program Manager Luke Kormylo, “ISCI hosts grand opening for Center of Hope,” idoc.idaho.gov
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DOG PROGRAM TO RETURN TO ISCC
The Education Project for Inmates and Canines (EPIC) is scheduled to return the Idaho State Correctional Center after a two year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 10-week program uses prisoners to train problematic, abandoned dogs prior to placing them back up for adoption.
Made possible in part by Meridian Canine Rescue, EPIC has long been considered by the Department, its participants, and the community a success, in that the dogs who complete their training typically postpone euthanization.
Please contact Meridian Canine Rescue to contribute to any of their many thoughtful efforts.
Source: Christinna Bautista, “Inmates and Canines Prison Program Returns to the Idaho Department of Correction,” Kivitv.com.
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FROM THE LOG OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS: #R005023-111522
2021 Corizon contract needed.
For the past year, we have been having issues with Corizon paying out our 2021 patient claims for IDOC patients. Corizon has been non-communicative and/or has been delaying response to our request to get payment.
We are having a legal team review the case but they need a copy of the Corizon contract to fully ascertain our options. Would you be able to help us out with this request?
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COVID NEWS
Since the start of COVID-19, the IDOC has administered over 82,675 tests to those of its clients it’s keeping in-state. More than 7070 are reported as positive.
Visitation remains fluid. Please view the Department’s website for updates.
This reporter requested a COVID booster and flu shot from IMSI in October. Neither have been provided and grievance is now being processed.
Residents experiencing issues related to COVID are invited to forward exhausted grievances to:
ACLU Idaho
PO Box 1897
Boise, ID 83701
View IDOC’s COVID report here.
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COOKIES FOR CORRECTIONS A HOLIDAY HIT
The week leading into Christmas, roughly six thousand prisoners in the desert south of Boise delighted as the faces of friendly volunteers went from cell to cell delivering bags of cookies.
The confections came courtesy of Cookies for Corrections, a yearly collaboration between local area churches and hoop-jumping prison management.
In just the last two years, the effort has expanded from servicing the 550-plus people held at IMSI to everyone housed in the Kuna prison complex.
To learn more, please inquire at svdpid.org.
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RENICK ON THE RADIO
With five years of episodes available for streaming, Mark Renick hosts Victory Over Sin on Boise’s KBXL 94.1FM, Saturdays at 12:30 pm. The program, funded by an advocacy arm of St. Vincent de Paul, shares what it’s like to live incarcerated in Idaho and then come out of incarceration to live on parole.
As a former IDOC religious activities coordinator, Darrell Taylor has worked closely with justice-involved individuals in and out corrections. Last month he joined Mark to discuss the importance of providing returning citizens mentorship and opportunity.
In a separate interview, St. Vincent de Paul reentry career development manager Tim Leigh spoke of upcoming plans to expand reentry employment opportunities and the importance of providing returning citizens with community support and mentorship .
Visit svdpid.org for more information on reentry resources in southwestern Idaho.
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RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Correctional Peace Officer Academy Session 90, the biggest in IDOC history, closed with a graduation ceremony at Boise State University. A total of 57 students celebrated the accomplishment.
ICIO–staff, residents and University of Idaho staff and students celebrated the completion of the 9th round of the Inside Out program.
ISCC–Sgt. Peter Bakotich was awarded Supervisor of the Quarter,
Lt. Travis Coffman was acknowledged for 10 years of service, Cpl. James Huffield was acknowledged for five years of service.
Nampa CRC–FSO Patty Vega-Lopez, Cpl. Rosalinda Ramos and Ofc. Joshua Hughes were honored for 15 years of service each.
Probation and Parole–Patrick Williams, a long-time District 4 parole officer, celebrated graduating to become a Boise Police officer.
Cpl. Aaron Streb was recognized as one of the reentry center Atlas Change Champions.
Sources: idoc.idaho.gov. @idcorrections on Instagram.
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RESIDENT AUDITING 101
The following public records requests were submitted in December:
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- Grant applications and awards for pre-prosecution diversion programs and trauma invention services for staff.
- December’s log of public records requests.
- A list and description of all apprentice programs offered to IDOC residents.
- The latest Board of Correction meeting minutes.
- Any proposals, requests for proposals, solicitations between the IDOC and digitized mail service providers over the last three years.
The following public record requests have yet to be filled:
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- October’s request for the current arrangements between the IDOC and ICSolutions, and the IDOC and JPay.
- All payments made from prison service providers to the IDOC in 2022.
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RESOURCES FOR INCARCERATED PERSONS
“Get Clemency Now: A Guidebook to Everything A Person in Prison Needs to Know About Clemency and How Families Can Help” by Jason Hernandez.
After successfully petitioning President Obama for clemency, author Jason Hernandez set out educate others on the process. Though much in the book pertains to federal commutations, state prisoners and their loved ones will also find it helpful. Free PDF versions are offered online and others can be ordered through Hernandez or Amazon.
www.getclemencynow.org
getclemencynow@gmail.com
Special thanks to the Jailhouse Lawyers Initiative for sending us a copy!
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INMATE SERVICES AT WORK
Ritchie Eppink
Wrest Collective
Boise, Idaho
12.19.22
Dear Ritchie,
Thanks for dropping in with holiday wishes, a congratulations on publishing and an intro to your new project. It sounds like you and the Wrest Collective will be doing some very cool community work this year, and I appreciate being asked for ideas on where to direct your time and talent.
Additional information will certainly help, but what immediately comes to mind are concerns brought to me by a Treasure Valley woman living in transitional housing. It seems there have been problems with owners abusing their authority, and some women are hesitant to report inappropriate behaviors and safety issues for fear of retaliation through Probation and Parole. Not so long ago it posed enough of a problem that those women began to strategize. Is this something you might be interested in?
Thanks again for dropping by. Best of luck this year!
Your friend,
Patrick Irving 82431
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SUGGESTION BOX
I suggest supplying all 2,100 residents of the Idaho State Correctional Center with shoes that fully encapsulate their feet, as opposed to the rubber Crocs that welcome frostbite in the winter.
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That’s it for this months, folks. Please continue keeping tabs…
Shout out from Shipwreck to the Wonder Twinz in Strong Island!
“On My Way / Somebody To Love (Acoustic Version)”
— Valerie June