More evidence that corrections is growing marketplace in which transparency does not pay . . .
Last year, after coming aware of the IDOC’s intent to equip people incarcerated at the Idaho State Correctional Institution with monitoring devices, I submitted a public records request for any related legal agreements, statements of work and internal PowerPoint presentations.
The agency refused to disclose all relevant records, citing a sunshine law exemption that allows it to keep secret records that could be used to compromise security operations.
This by far was the most believable excuse that the IDOC has offered me as a reason for cloaking its business operations. But that didn’t make it any less of a slap to the face–not just to me but to Idaho taxpayers and other criminal justice researchers and writers who are right to wonder about the agency’s spending.
Tenacious journalist I am, I offered my good cheek in February:
“Hello. Back in July, I was denied my public records request for the agreement between the IDOC and the company contracted to equip residents of the Idaho State Correctional Institution with wearable monitoring devices. This request (R021592-072924) was denied on the grounds that it contained security procedures and site security records, which are exempt per Idaho Code. How about just providing me the name of the company contracted and the total cost to install and operate these services by year?”
The IDOC responded, “Based on the search criteria you provided, IDOC staff have searched for the records you requested and were unable to locate any documents that were responsive to your request other than the records you have previously requested.”
(“Ouch” once again–and now I’m down to my last two cheeks . . .)
Far be it from me to speculate on whether someone in the transparency department is just being lazy–or worse, refusing to disclose contractual information on the advice of legal counsel–but the IDOC used to disclose all contracts containing sensitive information with the sensitive bits redacted. This at least allowed interested parties to know which companies were winning government favor and benefitting from taxpayer money.
Here is where I would like to tell you that both the Idaho Press Club and the Idaho First Amendment Alliance were interested in hearing how I, their black-sheep brethren, was obstructed from performing the public service that I, for years, have provided for free. Unfortunately, neither organization has ever cared to answer my letters.
(Both southern cheeks have been hit! Where the *u** are my reinforcements?!?)
The IDOC transparency team can be contacted with questions regarding contracts, proposals and other department records at 208-658-2000.
View related posts:
“IDOC refuses to disclose spending proposals/pilot programs for Idaho Opioid Settlement funds.“