Category: Dispatches
Congratulations Director Bree Derrick! Farewell Josh Tewalt!
The Office of the Governor yesterday announced a change in leadership at the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC). Former agency director Josh Tewalt left to join the private sector. His replacement, Bree Derrick, was promoted from her position as the department’s deputy director. Over the last five years, I have attentively watched Tewalt and Derrick … Continue reading “Congratulations Director Bree Derrick! Farewell Josh Tewalt!”
Must read: Alex Friedmann’s wind-breaking report, “The Art of the Prison Fart”
Kudos to my fellow Prison Journalism Project contributor Alex Friedmann for his latest gas of an article. In “The Art of the Prison Fart,” Friedmann avoids the long-winds of showmanship by cutting straight through the pants of the truth and lighting up prison’s most precarious battlefield with a blue dart of beautiful reporting. Prison writers … Continue reading “Must read: Alex Friedmann’s wind-breaking report, “The Art of the Prison Fart””
IDOC: Transitional funding is running low. What to know while planning reentry.
[Delivered to IDOC residents over JPay Mar. 10, 2025.] Memorandum DATE: March 10, 2025 TO: Resident Population FROM: Reentry Services RE: Transitional Funding Over the past few months, IDOC Reentry Services has implemented changes to the decision-making process for approving transitional funding. We would like to inform you of the updates and give some encouragement … Continue reading “IDOC: Transitional funding is running low. What to know while planning reentry.”
IDOC Resident Communications Updates/Memos # 3, 4 and 5 (switch from JPay to Viapth)
The three newest department memos on the upcoming switchover from JPay to Viapath. Asterisks and end notes are mine. *** “Resident Communications Update/Memo #3” [Sent to facility residents over JPay Feb. 19] Topic: Email Changes Residents wont be able to use JPay messages. People you talked to using JPay can still see the old messages … Continue reading “IDOC Resident Communications Updates/Memos # 3, 4 and 5 (switch from JPay to Viapth)”
ISCI featured in Prison Journalism Project article “What Extreme Cold Feels Like in Prison”
Prison Journalism Project recently tasked incarcerated journalists across the U.S. with describing winter behind bars. Three contributors, including Patrick, shared from their experiences at the Idaho State Correctional Institution, in the desert south of Boise. Visit prisonjournalismproject.org to read “What Extreme Cold Feels Like in Prison” by PJP contributors. Click here to view Patrick’s PJP … Continue reading “ISCI featured in Prison Journalism Project article “What Extreme Cold Feels Like in Prison””
IDOC to equip residents with wearable monitoring technologies, refuses to disclose costs and contractor.
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 … Continue reading “IDOC to equip residents with wearable monitoring technologies, refuses to disclose costs and contractor.”
Welcome back, Dale! Super cool you didn’t die!!
I heard it first in the prison dining hall while waiting in line for lunch: the warden at the prison across the street finally had enough of Dale Shackelford, the prolific prison litigator and writer behind IdahoPrisonBlog.org. Shackelford was transferred early February from the Idaho State Correctional Center (ISCC) to the Idaho State Correctional Institution … Continue reading “Welcome back, Dale! Super cool you didn’t die!!”
Official: IDOC/ICSolutions contract amendment outlining switch from JPay to ViaPath Technologies
[P]lease note, IDOC does not have a contract with Viapath, they are subcontractors to ICS, with whom IDOC does have a contract with [sic]. We are providing you the latest amendment to that contract which will address all the new changes. — IDOC Transparency Team C014–017 AMENDMENT SEVENTEEN THIS AMENDMENT SEVENTEEN to Agreement CO14-017 for … Continue reading “Official: IDOC/ICSolutions contract amendment outlining switch from JPay to ViaPath Technologies”
Ending the JPay Era with more adjustments to my newsfeed.
What’s the deal with my monthly First Amend This! newsletter? An inquiring mind recently messaged me over JPay to ask. [T]he reason that I haven’t published anything for December and January is that I began questioning the overall utility of my newsletter while struggling to keep up with it. It’s actually quite rare that I … Continue reading “Ending the JPay Era with more adjustments to my newsfeed.”
‘IDOC Resident Communications Update/Memo #2’ and COVID-19 ‘mortality switch extension’ memo.
[Posted to my dayroom 2.12.25. Link to IDOC memo post here ] We are still planning the transition from JPay tablets to ViaPath in May 2025. Many residents are asking if they can still use the old tablets. Yes, you can still use them. The stuff you downloaded can be used until the tablet starts … Continue reading “‘IDOC Resident Communications Update/Memo #2’ and COVID-19 ‘mortality switch extension’ memo.”