Category: Dispatches

Hey IDOC Central Office, how about sending some Resident Withdrawal Forms to ISCI?

6.20.25 Dear Central Office staff, Residents of Idaho State Correctional Institution Unit 14 have now been unable to obtain withdrawal request forms for multiple weeks in a row. According to our unit staff, the forms are out of stock and will show up whenever they show up. Because many of us rely on these forms … Continue reading “Hey IDOC Central Office, how about sending some Resident Withdrawal Forms to ISCI?”

“What We Saw in Those Images From the El Salvador Mega Prison” — A PJP collab.

PJP writers react to the pictures of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem standing in front of men packed tightly together in CECOT, the Central American nation’s notorious prison. by Daniel X. Cohen, Troy Chapman, Jeffery Shockley, Patrick Irving, Cesar Hernandez, Angelo Sedillo, Jamie Silvonek, Derek LeCompte and Justin Slavinski [This work first appeared on Prison Journalism … Continue reading ““What We Saw in Those Images From the El Salvador Mega Prison” — A PJP collab.”

“The Frightening Prospect of Being Sent to Prison in Another Country” — a Prison Journalism Project collaboration.

PJP writers react to Trump’s proposal to send incarcerated U.S. citizens to the infamous mega-prison in El Salvador. by Patrick Irving, Lucretia Stone, Cesar Hernandez, Angelo Sedillo, James Mancuso and Jamie Silvonek [This article first appeared on Prison Journalism Project.] In the early months of his second term, President Donald Trump has already made dramatic changes to the … Continue reading ““The Frightening Prospect of Being Sent to Prison in Another Country” — a Prison Journalism Project collaboration.”

Mark Renick’s radio interview w/new IDOC Director Bree Derrick.

Former Idaho Maximum Security Institution resident Mark Renick on Saturday broadcast his most recent interview with new Idaho department of Correction director Bree Derrick. Derrick, who was promoted from her former position of deputy director, informs Renick’s audience of her philosophy on corrections, updates on prison expansion and how the agency’s Free2Succeed community mentor program … Continue reading “Mark Renick’s radio interview w/new IDOC Director Bree Derrick.”

Incarcerated seniors have been all but forgotten. Peer caregiving offers a potential solution.

In my most recent Prison Journalism Project op-ed, “Who should care for the elderly in prison?”, I outline the legislative changes necessary to achieve an acceptable level of safety for our country’s aging prison population. I wrote the piece as a follow-up to the report I filed last year with my local Area Agency on … Continue reading “Incarcerated seniors have been all but forgotten. Peer caregiving offers a potential solution.”

James Mancuso covers private Ariz. prison housing Hawai’i’s forgotten people.

When James Mancuso returned from Saguaro Correctional Center in Eloy, Ariz. to finish serving his time in Kuna, Idaho, he keistered back with him a painfully insightful story: How after spending years dumping its people into a private, mainland prison, Hawai’i is now paying Hills Have Eyes Inc. (aka CoreCivic) to punish them much more … Continue reading “James Mancuso covers private Ariz. prison housing Hawai’i’s forgotten people.”

ViaPath/GettingOut Deployment Schedule, Pricing and Packages for Idaho Prisons.

[Sent over JPay to IDOC residents 4.30.25] Resident Communications Update/Memo #13 Topic: Deployment Schedule, Pricing and Packages Deployment Schedule – We have received the deployment schedule. These dates are confirmed, barring any unforeseen circumstances that would cause a delay. Trainings for residents will occur on the deployment date. Saguaro — Thursday, May 15th MVTC — … Continue reading “ViaPath/GettingOut Deployment Schedule, Pricing and Packages for Idaho Prisons.”

Idaho prison writer James Mancuso covers Idaho Correctional Industries.

In an article published by Prison Journalism Project (PJP), Idaho prison writer James Mancuso describes how he and others are benefitting from apprenticeships made available through Idaho Correctional Industries (ICI). His article, “Why Prisons Should Offer More Job Training Programs,” provides a positive outlook on workforce development in Idaho corrections and considers how businesses like … Continue reading “Idaho prison writer James Mancuso covers Idaho Correctional Industries.”

Did IDOC get scammed for $1.8M?

It’s coming up on a year since the IDOC denied my public records request for all legal agreements, statements of work and internal PowerPoint presentations surrounding its contract to equip Idaho prisoners with wearable monitoring technologies. I submitted the request after Idaho State Correctional Institution administrators prepared myself and other residents to dawn wearable tracking … Continue reading “Did IDOC get scammed for $1.8M?”

Resident Communications Update/Memo #12 (on the switch from JPay to Viapath)

[Sent from IDOC to its residents over JPay April 23, 2025] Topic: Pricing and Packages, Mortality Lock, Deployment Schedule Pricing and Packages — We have come to an agreement on pricing and more entertainment options in the form of a premium profile, two music subscriptions, and a TV subscription. Once these are finalized in writing, we … Continue reading “Resident Communications Update/Memo #12 (on the switch from JPay to Viapath)”