Category: Dispatches
Mission Impossible: Exposing Private Prison Failures at Saguaro Correctional Center
by David J. Meister Roughly an hour’s drive southeast of Phoenix, Arizona, in remote Pinal County, several sprawling complexes of concrete blocks and razor-wire-topped fences mar the desert landscape. One of them is the Saguaro Correctional Center (SCC) — a private prison facility operated by CoreCivic, the latest incarnation of the infamous Corrections Corporation of … Continue reading “Mission Impossible: Exposing Private Prison Failures at Saguaro Correctional Center”
A toss of oatmeal draws a feeding frenzy at this Idaho prison.
I enjoy watching the antics of the birds and rabbits that arrive for the feast. By James Mancuso [This article was originally published at the Prison Journalism Project and appears here with author’s permission] Every morning, I toss a large handful of dry oatmeal flakes onto the prison’s recreation yard to feed the animals. Some … Continue reading “A toss of oatmeal draws a feeding frenzy at this Idaho prison.”
A prison fund is supposed to benefit incarcerated people in Idaho. Has that changed?
The fund, which receives millions of dollars each year, used to provide things like gym equipment and religious materials. Those days are long gone. By Dennis “Abbadunamis” Mintun [This article was originally published at the Prison Journalism Project and appears here with author’s permission] In Idaho state prisons, a certain percentage of the cost of … Continue reading “A prison fund is supposed to benefit incarcerated people in Idaho. Has that changed?”
New tablet system falls well short of expectations.
Paid subscription service to free platform/app provides more buffering than content. By Dale Shackelford [This article was originally published at https://idahoprisonblog.quora.com and appears here with author’s permission] On 9/15/25, prisoners at the Idaho State Correctional Center (ISCC) were issued new tablets with content provided by ICS/ViaPath (formerly GTL or GlobalTel Link). Since then, it has … Continue reading “New tablet system falls well short of expectations.”
Goodbye JPay, hello sexual misconduct of staff, more shady records refusals and another Mancuso feel-good.
The time has finally come. The IDOC has delivered notice that all JPay services will be terminated in Idaho prisons Oct. 20. Here’s where I’d normally detail the agency’s history with JPay and the company’s infuriating behaviors. Unfortunately, the IDOC’s new GettingOut messaging service limits me to 1500 characters per message. And that’s just not … Continue reading “Goodbye JPay, hello sexual misconduct of staff, more shady records refusals and another Mancuso feel-good.”
Resident communications update/memo #24: Tablet funding, videograms, and ViaPath tablet deployment schedule.
[Sent to IDOC residents over JPay Sept. 10, 2025.] Tablet Funding: 1. This information will also be available during deployment. Please remember that Friends and Family cannot fund the tablet activities through ViaPath or GettingOut. Currently the two options for depositing funds are the Trust account or the IC Solutions Debit Account. 2. The monthly … Continue reading “Resident communications update/memo #24: Tablet funding, videograms, and ViaPath tablet deployment schedule.”
Why 3 Idaho prisoners donated their commissary funds to support the Idaho Foodbank.
When I was seven years old, I remember my mom driving my family to the foodbank in Sandpoint, Idaho. We were very poor and my mom is a woman who doesn’t like to ask for help. All five of us kids waited in the back of the truck as my mom went in through the … Continue reading “Why 3 Idaho prisoners donated their commissary funds to support the Idaho Foodbank.”
Medication alert for Idaho prisoners reliant on long-acting insulin.
[This message delivered over JPay to the Idaho Department of Correction resident population Aug. 29, 2025.] There is a shortage of long-acting insulin (like Lantus and Semglee) across the country. Because of this, you will be switched to a different type of insulin and follow a new schedule. The new insulin is called NPH. It … Continue reading “Medication alert for Idaho prisoners reliant on long-acting insulin.”
Resident Communications Memo #22: Updated ViaPath Tablet Deployment Schedule
[This memo sent to IDOC residents over JPay Aug. 27, 2025.] The IC Solutions deployment teams are currently working at Idaho Correctional Institution — Orofino (ICIO) and North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI). The deployment is going well and we expect both facilities to be successfully transitioned by the end of this week. Once ICIO and … Continue reading “Resident Communications Memo #22: Updated ViaPath Tablet Deployment Schedule”
Multiple murder charges filed over death at Idaho contract prison.
Five men incarcerated at the Saguaro Correction Center — an Idaho contract prison in Eloy, Ariz. — have been charged with first-degree murder for the May 4, 2024 death of 46-year-old Anton Myklebust. Myklebust was one of roughly 860 men sent by Hawai’i to the CoreCivic facility as a result of the state’s prisons being … Continue reading “Multiple murder charges filed over death at Idaho contract prison.”