Previous: First Amend This! An IDOC Newsletter, Oct. ’23 [Censored!!!]
Welcome to the November 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, 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 Erica 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
In this issue:
Centurion Health strikes again; someone scored lethal injection drugs but don’t ask who or how; the Department of Education is offering a fresh start to student loan borrowers; and the number of shootings this year involving Treasure Valley law enforcement agencies looks grim.
Let’s First Amend This!
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NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS WHEN IT COMES TO CENTURION HEALTH
With three years left on its $299.4 million five-year contract, Centurion Health is once again in the spotlight after woefully mismanaging the medical care of two residents.
Alex Brizee with the Idaho Statesman covered the story last month of how Bobby Templin waited half a year to receive the rush surgery required to repair his broken hand.
Templin documented multiple exchanges between himself and a Centurion worker who claimed that Templin was scheduled for surgery when he wasn’t.
A health service administrator for the company stated in response to a grievance filed by Templin that an extremely limited number of area specialists are willing to accept IDOC residents. (This as the former health care provider for Idaho prisons, Corizon Health, Inc. aka Tehum Care Services aka YesCare, Inc., is reported to have left tens of millions of dollars in local area hospital bills unpaid.)
Templin’s experience was not an isolated incident.
Brizee also reported last month on how Jacob Frey, a man represented by Boise attorney Craig Durham, has filed a lawsuit claiming that multiple Centurion and IDOC employees have mismanaged his diabetes for nearly three years.
According to Brizee, the lawsuit claims that at one point Frey was accused of refusing his insulin for an evening, and that an ISCC lieutenant then ordered other correctional officers not to call a medical emergency in response to Frey’s condition.
The following morning Frey’s blood glucose levels were reported to be nearly double the number at which the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends calling 911.
The IDOC unambiguously states its mission on the cover of the resident handbook that it provides to all men as they are received into its facilities: “Protect the public, our staff and those within our custody and supervision through safety, accountability, partnerships and providing opportunities for resident change.”
At what point will medical practices such as those listed in this article be recognized as counterproductive to the Department’s purported mission?
Sources: Alex Brizee, “Idaho Man’s Hand Broke, Healed With Deformity In Prison. It Took Months to See a Surgeon,” Idaho Statesman. Alex Brizee, “Diabetic Incarcerated Man in Idaho Sues Medical Provider, Says Staff Withheld Insulin,” Idaho Statesman. Matte Clarke, “Corizon Executes ‘Texas Two-Step,’ Spinning Off Debt Into Bankrupt New Firm to Avoid Paying Creditors and Lawsuit Winners,” Prison Legal News, Aug. ’23.
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WEEK ONE, DAY FIVE BREAKFAST (MAINLINE)
[Fruit and whole grain bread is substituted at facilities flagged for excessively brewing alcohol.]
______________________________
1 pc — Banana Bread
2 oz — Bran Flakes
2 oz — Breakfast Sausage
16 oz — Milk 1%
10 gm — Margarine
2 pkt — Sugar
8 oz — Vitamin Beverage
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Source: IDOC Food Service Menu 7.1
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LOCKED AND LOADED: LETHAL INJECTION IS LIVE ON THE TABLE
After Fourth Judicial District Judge Jason D. Scott last month issued a death warrant for Thomas Creech, a man convicted of three murders who has sat on death row since 1983, the Department promptly served it and scheduled the execution for November 8th.
Creech was then granted a temporary stay of execution after the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole agreed to hear his defense team make the case for commuting his sentence from death to life in prison.
According to an IDOC press release, Director Josh Tewalt filed an affidavit certifying that the agency possesses the chemicals required to perform a lethal injection.
Creech, now 73, was serving life in prison for two Valley County murders committed in 1973 when, eight years into his sentence, he used a sock full of batteries to beat fellow resident David Dale Jensen to death.
Creech was originally sentenced to death for the Valley County murders but had that sentence reduced to life in prison after winning an appeal.
Following Jensen’s murder he was again sentenced to death by Judge Robert Newhouse and has remained on death row since 1983.
Judge Newhouse is now saying, in Creech’s petition for a clemency hearing , that to execute him now–more than 40 years after the fact–would be an act of vengeance that serves no real purpose.
As of November 1st the clemency hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Once scheduled, Jensen’s family will be allowed to speak at the hearing to the commission’s seven-member board, who will also hear arguments from the defense and the state.
Should the Board vote in favor of granting Creech clemency, Idaho Gov. Brad Little reserves the right to overrule them (but only in cases of murder and treason).
Idaho law prevents correctional officials from being compelled to disclose any information related to the procurement, storage, testing and delivery of lethal injection drugs.
Clark Corbin reported on the Idaho Matters radio show that Director Tewalt sent a letter out to his staff stating that anyone who feels uncomfortable participating in the execution procedures may opt out without facing future repercussions.
Sources: “IDOC Serves Death Warrant to Thomas Creech”. Rebecca Boone, “Idaho’s Longest-Serving Death Row Resident Is Scheduled for November Execution by Lethal Injection,” apnews.com. Julie Luchetta, “Attorneys for longest serving death row inmate in Idaho ask for clemency”, Boise State Public Radio.
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WEEK ONE, DAY FIVE LUNCH (MAINLINE)
[Fruit and whole grain bread is substituted at facilities flagged for excessively brewing alcohol.]
______________________________
1 ea — Fresh Fruit/Orange
2 oz — Peanut Butter
1 oz — Jelly
2 oz — Whole Grain Bread
3 oz — Fresh Vegetable
1 oz — Potato Chips
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Source: IDOC Food Service Menu 7.1
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A FRESH START FOR STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS
The Department of Education (DOE) has launched a one-time temporary program that offers special benefits to all borrowers who have defaulted on their federal student loans.
The Fresh Start program can be accessed by incarcerated students who are seeking to restore their Pell Grant eligibility and remove student loan default from their credit reports.
Those who qualify must apply no later than August 31st, 2024. They will then be expected to make scheduled payments toward their loans to avoid going back into default.
By asking for an income-driven repayment plan, monthly payments for people applying from incarceration could be as low as zero dollars.
Those with a possible release date of more than 10 years away may be able to qualify for a write-off, which would prevent them from receiving future federal student aid loans or Pell Grants.
People who are incarcerated can access Fresh Start by writing “I would like to use Fresh Start to bring my loans back into good standing” to:
Default Resolution Group
P.O. Box 5609
Greenville, TX 75403
Incarcerated applicants should include their name, social security number, date of birth, mailing address and a note that they are currently incarcerated.
Fresh Start can also be applied for by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or by signing a Fresh Start acknowledgement with one’s school.
For more information about a student loan write-off, contact:
U.S. Department of Education
Attn: Ombudsman Office
830 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002
ombudsman@ed.gov
Source: Charlotte West, “Student Loan Debt is a ‘Massive Reentry Issue’,” College Inside. Federal Student Aid Office of the Department of Education, “Getting Out of Student Loan Default with Fresh Start.”
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WEEK ONE, DAY FIVE DINNER (MAINLINE)
[Fruit and whole grain bread is substituted at facilities flagged for excessively brewing alcohol.]
______________________________
1 cup — Chili
1 1/2 cup — All-Shapes Pasta
1 pc — Cornbread
.75 cup — Vegetable Blend
10 gram — Margarine
1/2 cup — Ice Cream
8 oz Vitamin Beverage
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Source: IDOC Food Service Menu 7.1
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A LOOK AT THIS YEAR’S LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOOTINGS
As of early October, Treasure Valley law enforcement agencies have been involved in 10 separate shootings that have taken seven lives.
Here, Shaun Goodwin with the Idaho Statesman maps the location of each incident and provides a related story: “Boise Area Has Had 10 Police Shootings This Year. Here’s Where, What Happened.”
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THE IDAHO PRISON ARTS COLLECTIVE APPEARS IN THE BOISE WEEKLY
The Boise Weekly shared the story last month as to how beloved IDOC volunteer Michael Richardson came to form the Idaho Prison Arts Collective, a non-profit organization that works in collaboration with the IDOC to bring creative and educational programs to people who are incarcerated in Idaho prisons.
In addition to helping establish four currently running programs at three different institutions, Richardson has also worked with current and former residents to publish two different books.
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- “Dear Me, (Writers in Idaho Prisons Reach Out to Their 12-Year-Old Selves)” features 50 different writers in and out of incarceration.
- “Twenty to Life: Essays of a Man’s Journey to Change Through His Incarceration” by David Steece. (Winner of a 2023 Independent Publisher Book Award.)
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The Collective states on its website that its mission is to “provide as many opportunities as possible for residents of the Idaho prison and re-entry communities to have transformative arts experiences–and to advocate for the humanity of those in and affected by the carceral system.”
Visit https://IdahoPrisonArts.org to learn more.
Source: Kate Jacobson, “Art=Justice: Local Nonprofit Brings Art Into Idaho’s Prison System,” Boise Weekly.
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SIGN UP FOR THE ISCI “HOPE NEWSLETTER”
ISCI residents who are preparing for a successful release are encouraged to sign up for the new Hope Newsletter.
The Hope Newsletter is written by an ISCI resident who also works at the facility’s Center of Hope.
The Center of Hope provides those preparing for a successful reentry with assistance for enrolling in transitional housing, Day One services, prison apprenticeship programs and more.
Those who wish to receive the new Hope Newsletter can do so by requesting it through their case manager or by visiting the center’s location in the Robert Janss School.
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ICI-O STAFF AND RESIDENTS CONTINUE PLACING SUPPORT BEHIND LEWIS CLARK ANIMAL SHELTER
Lewis Clark Animal Shelter representatives Ayanna Barrera and Abby Seward were greeted by a surprise last month when delivering a new canine cohort to ICI-O’s Paroling Animals with Skills program (PAWS).
When handed a container that had been collecting donations from the facility’s lobby, the two discovered inside it more than $400, including the total amount of the prize-money won by residents who participated in competitions at this year’s Clearwater County Fair.
To help further ICI-O’s support for the Lewis Clark Animal Shelter, please visit the PAWS Program or call (208) 746.1623.
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RENICK ON THE RADIO
With six 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 a Southwest Idaho advocacy arm of https://www.svdpid.org, shares what it’s like to live incarcerated in Idaho and then come out of incarceration and live on parole.
10.7.23 — Prison reform advocate Dave Fisher found his experience with incarceration counterproductive to public safety. This inspired him to pull from his experience as an engineer and propose an ambitious overhaul to corrections. View Fisher’s proposal at Prisonreform.info.
10.21.23 — From an early age Terry Kilfian was exposed to an outcast lifestyle. A spiritual awakening three years ago led him to surrender his pride and start Breaking Addiction Ministries. Contact Terry through Facebook or at 775-508-6063.
10.27.23 — Keri Raby and Jessica Gomez have a new transitional housing option for women in Canyon County. With three houses and growing, they offer live-in house managers, resource assistance and weekly meetings. Call or text 208-900-8674 for more information.
Contact Mr. Renick at 208-477-1006 or https://www.svdpid.org. Visit https://www.svdpid.org for more information on reentry resources in Southern Idaho.
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RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED
District 4 — Supervisor Seth Radimer with a service award for 14 years on the Correctional Emergency Response Team
District 5 — Section Supervisor Jayone Fitzhugh as employee of the quarter.
PWCC — CCM Preston, CO Deanna Blair and Nurse Holly Gault as employees of the quarter
Unclaimed — Sgt. Erein Saldaña for 10 years of service.
Source: Idaho Department of Correction on Facebook
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RESIDENT AUDITING 101
IDOC Policy 503.02.01.001 states that residents are to provided with an Electronic Message Contraband and Denial Form for every incoming or outgoing correspondence that is censored over JPay.
The Resident Auditing Committee has confirmed that multiple IDOC facilities are not adhering to this policy.
Every time an Electronic Message Contraband and Denial Form is not completed and delivered according to policy, a resident is denied the information they need to challenge the reason for censorship–a due process right that is protected by 14th Amendment.
Residents who have not been provided the requisite form after receiving a JPay censorship notification may compel the form’s production by initiating the grievance process.
Non-residents with questions or concerns regarding IDOC policy may contact IDOC Policy Coordinator Jack Fraser at jfraser@idoc.idaho.gov or 208-672-3430.
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A RECOMMENDED RESOURCE FOR INCARCERATED PERSONS
The Prison Activist Resource Center (PARC) is an all volunteer organization that is largely funded by small donations from individuals. The center’s 24-page National Prisoner Resource Directory is updated twice a year and is free upon request.
PARC does its best to respond to individual letters but cannot provide legal advice or referrals. Nor can it perform individual advocacy for prisoners experiencing rights violations.
The organization asks that those who find its directory helpful share it with as many people as possible.
Prison Activist Resource Center
PO Box 70447
Oakland, CA 94612
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INMATE SERVICES AT WORK
10.26.23
Hello Dr. Hulbert,
[R]egarding your offer to supply our residents with a few more copies of your book, I appreciate knowing that we are in your thoughts and I will be more than happy to help.
Because I’m now at ISCI, I’m unable to easily connect with IMSI staff and I’m restricted from communicating with the facility’s residents. What I would suggest, if you’re interested in exposing our more problematic residents to your teachings, is reaching out with my referral to IMSI correctional case managers (CCM) Scott Teats and Ms. Hottinger.
I don’t know for certain whether CCM Hottinger is still active but she did work in restricted housing during the time that I passed through.
CCM Teats may remember that he logged my participation in your course just before I transferred. He should also be able to connect you with any of the facility’s other case managers. I would recommend asking whether any residents in C-Unit, IMSI’s mental health unit, may be interested in working through your book.
Here at ISCI, Unit 16, another mental health unit, likely has the highest concentration of candidates for your materials. But you may have a better chance than I of floating the idea that unit staff could keep and refer copies of your book to select residents.
It’s my understanding that we are soon to start two mentor programs at this facility. Surely it would benefit participants of both programs to know your book as a resource and have a few copies on hand.
The same could be said for our mental health clinicians. Chief Psychologist Walter Campbell and ISCI GP Clinical Supervisor Matthew Roy would undoubtedly appreciate your interest.
As for individuals here who would absorb your materials, I’m still in the process of meeting people, but I do know one young man who would be thrilled to receive a copy. IDOC policy prevents me from sharing his information but I can direct him to request one through your center–with your permission of course.
Just some thoughts for now. Please let me know what you think.
With reverence,
Patrick Irving
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SUGGESTION BOX
I suggest the IDOC encourage all case managers to log the efforts and accomplishments of the individuals who makeup their caseload, especially those who aren’t eligible for behavioral programming options.
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Shout out to Paul Wright and the Human Rights Defense Center!