Updates

Previous: First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, Oct. ’22 (The Ad-Seg Issue)

Welcome to the November edition 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 Erika 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.
…

EDITOR’S NOTE

Thank you new subscribers (!) for committing to keeping tabs on Idaho’s prison news.

What you should know before we begin:

1. 1. 1. This being the November issue, its coverage is limited to events that took place throughout October.
      2. This newsletter functions as a both an information resource and an outlet for this editor to get creative with his therapy. Please take this into consideration as you surf through every issue.
      3. Without some level of encouragement and support from our correctional staff, I would find it much more difficult to provide the scope of service that I now do. It’s important to me that I provide the staff with the same support and encouragement.

Let’s First Amend This!
…

KEEFE STRIKES AGAIN!

The Keefe Group is at it again; pilfering prisoners pockets in the kind of criminal-minded manner that even those restricted from school zones are comfortable deeming unconscionable.

On October 21^st, the Keefe Commissary Network announced that several previously discontinued fan favorites were set to return again, at up to three times their original rates. Including but not limited to: macaroni and cheese, black beans, flour tortillas, popcorn, saltine crackers, hot pickles, cookies, Moon Pies and peanuts.

Those already struggling to afford holiday phone calls can now purchase pre-cooked bacon for $82.77 per pound ($11.64 for a 2.25 oz package).

Sugar-free Werthers, the sole hard candy that remains unaffected by the ongoing prohibition, implemented by the Department in effort to combat alcoholism, is now running an even race with the per-pound price of chicken: $25.14.

Though the IDOC recognizes the need to prepare its residents for eventual reintegration back into the community, it seems that by continuing to approve of Keefe’s ridiculous pricing decisions, which do little more than leech from prisoners’ hard earned coffers, that the Department is increasingly comfortable with nickel-and-diming its clients out of the finances they need to embark on a successful reentry.

Find this article interesting? Learn more: The Commissary Pricelist for Idaho Prisoners and the Revenue Sharing Arrangement that Awards Setting the Highest Prices Possible.
…

IDOC SERVINGS SIZED SMALLER FOR VAGINAS

Sunday is Starve Day in Idaho prisons. Lunch service consists of bland nutritional muffins, bagged up at breakfast to munch on at noon. The men who find them edible are offered two to eat, but the Department’s female clients are provided with just one.

And muffins aren’t the only food where women receive smaller portions. According to the IDOC’s female food service menus, they also receive reduced rations of the following: biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, French toast, Farina, pancakes, hash browns, breakfast hash, roast beef, bread, cornbread, vegan bread, hamburger buns, vegan buns, ketchup, peanut butter, potato chips, corn dogs, turkey, tuna salad, ham salad, margarine, rice, refried beans, 3-bean salad and baked fries.

When asked in December to speculate on the disparity found within the portion allotments, IMSI staff and residents were quick to point out that men are required to carry the massive weight of a penis and well-fed women face an uphill battle finding and keeping husbands. “And husbandless ladies’ chances of survivin’ ain’t all that good.” Especially for those, they say, who are released from captivity in Idaho, where minimal effort is given to prepare them for the workforce and felons face great difficulty finding decent housing.

Though this reporter strongly disagrees with their reasoning, he can do little but wonder: What other food service is capable of serving females half-portions and escaping the kind of scrutiny that changes a regime?

Sources: IDOC Food Service Menus 7.0: Male/Female, Mainline, Healthy Choice Ovo-lacto, Vegan
…

WOMEN SOON TO RECEIVE (SOME OF) THE SAME JOB TRAINING AS MEN

The Idaho Workforce Development Council has awarded the IDOC with a $25,000 grant that will be used to provide residents of the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center (PWCC) with what the Department describes as “a rigorous, competency-based, industry-recognized program that will provide women at the facility with the foundational and construction skills to be competitive in an entry level vocational or construction-career field.”

IDOC Director Josh Tewalt describes the grant as an investment in public safety. “When people are equipped with job skills while incarcerated, they are more likely to succeed as law-abiding citizens and less likely to return to prison.”

Idaho’s incarcerated female population is recognized to suffer from higher rates of mental health and substance abuse issues, and also carry more childhood trauma than those in the general public.

According to a 2021 Bureau of Justice Statistics report, Idaho incarcerates women at a rate higher than any other state within the US.

In 2020, 110 per 100,000 women in Idaho found themselves locked behind bars; a rate more than double the national average.

Earlier this year, Idaho set aside $112 million to construct a new 848-bed women’s prison, but only $2.5 million to create the pre-prosecution diversion strategies recommended by the state’s Opioid Task Force and Behavioral Health Council.

Programs similar to the one scheduled for PWCC are already available at the following men’s facilities: Idaho State Correctional Center, Idaho State Correctional Institution, North Idaho Correctional Institution, Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino.

Sources: Pocatello Women’s Prison to Offer Job Training to Residents This Fall,” Idoc.idaho.gov. Rachel Cohen, “Idaho Has the Highest Female Incarceration Rate In the Country,” Boise State Public Radio News. “Idaho Department of Correction JFAC Presentation (1-18-22)”
…

JUDGE AWARDS ROUGHLY $2.5M IN LEGAL FEES TO FORMER PRISONER’S LEGAL TEAM

A federal judge has awarded roughly $2.5 million in fees to the legal team that represented Adree Edmo in a case of deliberate indifference.

Diagnosed in 2012 with severe gender dysphoria, a condition described as one in which the dissonance between a person’s gender identity and assigned sex at birth causes severe emotional distress and dangerous impairment of life functions, Edmo filed suit in 2017, seeking to be treated with gender confirmation surgery.

In 2018, U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled in Edmo’s favor; Idaho appealed, drawing out the legal battle and delaying the surgery longer.

Though the surgery itself was covered by insurance, by October 2020, the State of Idaho, at Governor Brad Little’s direction, had already spent a minimum of $456,738 in legal fees.

Fortunately for the state, its former prison healthcare provider, Corizon Health, Inc., has agreed to pay the entire $2.5 million award.

After receiving her gender confirmation surgery in 2020, Edmo was transferred to a women’s prison, from where she was later released in 2021.

Sources: Rebecca Boone, “Transgender Inmate Who Sued Idaho to Get $2.5M in Legal Fees,” Associated Press. Mark Wilson, “Idaho Provides Nation’s Second Gender Confirmation Surgery for Transgender Prisoner,” Prison Legal News. Betsy Russell, “US Supreme Court Rejects Idaho’s Appeal In Transgender Inmate Surgery Case,” Idaho Press.
…

NEW TRAUMA TREATMENT PROGRAM SHOWS PROGRESS IN CORRECTIONS

“Correctional staff experience high levels of stress, burnout and other mental-health related consequences. They also experience higher rates of PTSD and suicide compared to those of the general working-age population. Stress and trauma can impact all aspects of one’s life, including relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and various hobbies and obligations.” — Idaho Department of Correction

The IDOC has launched phase one of a new pilot program that aims to provide trauma treatment and intervention services to correctional staff and their clients.

The Department is now looking to distribute a total of $500,000 in grants to providers capable of delivering holistic treatment options to staff suffering from stress, fatigue and trauma.

Residents will participate in the program’s later phases, which are expected to offer the following, and more:

• • • mental health interventions
    • one-on-one incident response
    • trauma-informed yoga
    • cognitive processing therapies
    • mindfulness techniques
    • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR)

Should all phases of the program unfold as expected, the treatments offered to residents will be seen as light years ahead of those they received for approximately the last twenty years. Once billed to the public as Therapeutic Communities (TCs), the shame-based treatment approaches deployed until 2015 did more to compound residents’ problems than they did to address root causes.

Within a lawsuit brought against the IDOC in 2013, several men filed declarations with the Court describing how, in order to maintain their place in the TC program–which the state required be completed prior to receiving parole–they were forced to participate in the following practices, dished out as punishments and referred to as “image breakers”: close-contact twerk-offs, pretending to lick a popsicle, dragging one’s buttocks across the floor like a dog that has worms, pretending to eat a burrito with the contents falling out (which participants say was designed by other prisoners to have one mimic fellatio), and playing piggly-wiggly (shaking one’s buttocks on all fours while snorting like a pig).

In a 2016 judgement, U.S. District Court Judge B. Lynn Winmill commented on the efficacy of the Department’s TC programs: “After reading the numerous inmate affidavits detailing the indignities inmates suffered under the guise of ‘treatment,’ the Court is not surprised by the increased recidivism rate.”

Professionals interested in applying to participate in the new trauma treatment programs are asked to send their questions to grants@idoc.idaho.gov.

Sources: Idoc.idaho.gov. Cynthia Sewell, “Kempf Ushers In New Era for Idaho Department of Correction“, Idaho Statesman. Case 1:13-cv-00332-BLW, Custodio v. Idaho State Board of Correction.
…

IDJC AWARDS GRANTS TO BUILD TROUBLED YOUTH ASSESSMENT CENTERS

Using funds set aside in Idaho’s 2022 legislative session, the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC) has awarded eight grants to be used for the construction of troubled youth assessment centers throughout the seven judicial districts within the State of Idaho.

KHQ Local News reports that the centers will used to screen and assess youth referred by law enforcement. After screening, the youth will be assigned to community provider services, where they will receive a case manager who will implement the (likely algorithmic) recommended level of care.

The National Assessment Center Association (NACA) is working closely with the state and the IDJC to establish the guidelines by which the centers will operate, and also to provide ongoing technical assistance.

According to Boise’s KTVB news anchor Morgan Romero, who reported on the center soon to open in Ada County, “NACA’s best practices show these centers save law enforcement time, improve coordination between agencies working with kids and get kids and their families help faster before either hit a crisis point.”

All eight centers are expected to become operational by June 30, 2023, but it is yet to be reported how they plan to stay funded and how families will be charged for the level of care received.

Earlier this year, during a sit-down with Boise State Public Radio host George Prentice, Idaho Justice Project Director Erika Marshall, along with Kendra Knighten, an associate with the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy and Idaho Voices for Children, discussed how families entangled in Idaho’s juvenile justice system are critically impacted by the system’s many fees.

Citing info available at the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy website, Prentice shared how one family that was forced to pay for public defender representation, mental health assessments, collection fees, cost of confinement and more, reported a crippling negative balance of $27,950, including added-on collection fees of up to 33 percent.

In 2021, more than 5,600 families of young men and women were assessed “cost of care” fees while the youth were in custody of the IDJC.

In the same year, Idaho identified roughly 198,000 cases of outstanding cost-of-care fees.

To learn more of the impacts these fees have on Idaho families, please visit: https://idahofiscal.org/removing-barriers-to-yourth-and-family-success-the-role-of-state-juvenile-cost-of-care-fees/

Sources: Morgan Romero, “New Youth Assessment Center Coming to Ada County,” KTVB.com. Noah Corrin, “Idaho to Create Assessment Centers to Divert Kids from Criminal Justice and Child Welfare Systems,” KHQ Local News. George Prentice, “As Thousands of Idaho Juvenile Offenders Remain in the Same System, Families are Shackled to Cost,” Boise State Pubic Radio.
…

FIRST AMEND THIS! INDUCTED INTO THE AMERICAN PRISON NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES

On March 24, 1800, “Forlorn Hope” became the first American newspaper to be published by an incarcerated person. Since then, over 500 periodicals have been published by U.S. prisoners, providing the public with a look at what goes on behind our nation’s prison walls.

Thanks to an amazing collaboration facilitated by Reveal Digital, many of these publications can now be accessed through the academic database JSTOR. The database implements a free digital library that provides access to over 12 million academic journal articles, books, images, contributed collections and primary sources.

The collection was made fully open-access in July, 2021, and is fittingly titled “American Prison Newspapers 1800 – 2020: Voices from the Inside.”

First Amend This! is proud to announce that this publication is now licensed under the CC-BY license, which will allow it to be repurposed and added to the collection.

As JSTOR provides an offline version of its database to prisons and jails across the nation, it is expected that our own newsletter archive will soon be accessible in facilities using the database.
…

COVID NEWS

Since the start of COVID-19, the IDOC has administered over 80,256 tests to its in-state clients. More than 6,954 are reported as positive.

Visitation remains disrupted at one or more facilities. Please view the Department’s website for the most current updates:

Those who have received their initial COVID vaccination are encouraged by the Department to follow up with booster shots.

Multiple residents report requesting covid boosters and flu shots, but have yet to receive word as to when they can be expected.

Residents experiencing issues related to COVID are invited to forward exhausted grievances to:

ACLU Idaho
PO Box 1897
Boise, ID 83701

View IDOC’s COVID report here.
…

AN IDOC ANNOUNCEMENT: THANKSGIVING MENU 2022

As you may have heard, the US is currently experiencing one of the worst bird flu epidemics on record. Nearly 50 million birds have already died from the disease, with 8 million of those being turkeys. The outbreak has greatly affected the supply of eggs and poultry. Although we’ve tried to avoid/delay menu changes as much as possible, our first meal to take a ‘hit’ will be Thanksgiving. Despite attempting to order turkeys early to be at the front of the line, our orders were denied by poultry producers. There simply isn’t enough to go around, and the retail (grocery store) markets get first priority.

As such, IDOC has purchased fresh pork loin roasts for the upcoming holiday meals. The Thanksgiving menu will include this freshly roasted pork, along with the usual trimmings (mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegetables, pie).

If you’re a die-hard turkey fan, I apologize that we aren’t able to provide it at this time. Some things are simply out of our control. It is still the goal of food service staff, however, to ensure a nice holiday meal, and I’m confident that although the Thanksgiving meal will look a little different this year, it will still be tasty and filling!
…

LIEUTENANT GREG HEUN IN THE CLEARWATER TRIBUNE

ICI-O Lieutenant Greg Heun has taken his talent for writing to the Clearwater Tribune, where he proudly presents kudos to his coworkers and provides the general public with a look behind the scenes.

Linked below are a few of Lieutenant Heun’s articles that we strongly encourage you take the time read.

• • • “The Orofino Prison, A positive Atmosphere“
    • “Hospice in Idaho Department of Correction, Going on 10 Years“
    • “Officer Madison Crouch: Orofino Prisons Employee of the Quarter“

…

RENICK ON THE RADIO

With five 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 an advocacy arm of St. Vincent de Paul, shares what it’s like to live incarcerated in Idaho and then come out of incarceration to live on parole.

Last month, Mark welcomed to the show Gigi Crist with the Rock Harbor Church in Meridian. Since April, Gigi’s church has been running the Regeneration Program, which is described as a Christian 12-step discipleship and recovery program that encourages self-examination. The two discussed the program’s setting and how to get involved.

Mark also featured Shawn Rucker on the show. As a 59-year-old returning citizen turned advocate, Shawn relayed the importance of preparing for reentry the day one enters prison. His experience exemplifies how one’s willingness to change must outweigh their pride before they’re able to fully utilize all available resources.

Visit svdpid.org for reentry resources and programs available in Southern Idaho.
…

RESIDENT AUDITING 101

A public records request for all Pre-Prosecution Diversion Program grant applications and awards was returned in October with “no records found.”

A request has been submitted for all Keefe sales volume reports and revenue payments made from April to present, as well as all notes, minutes and documents from commissary review committee meetings that took place in the same period.

A request has been submitted for the log of public records requested in October.

A grievance has been filed in an attempt to expedite April’s requests for:

• • • Keefe sales volume reports for the weeks of 7-15-21 and 1-21-22
    • Notes, minutes and documents from the two commissary review committee meetings prior to 4-19-22, as well as all written requests submitted to the contract manager prior to these meetings
    • Revenue payments made from Keefe to IDOC from March ’21 to March ’22

…

CORRECTION!

Where it was implied in the August issue that CentuyLink is currently contracted to provide the IDOC with communication services, it has since been brought to our attention that company’s contract has expired. A public records request for current arrangements between the IDOC and its communication service providers has been submitted.
…

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR INCARCERATED PERSONS

Thanks go out to Charlotte West with the College Inside newsletter for introducing us to “The Sentences That Create Us.” This book, which features the work of more than fifty writers, is filled with advice, inspiration and prison writer resources.

PEN America is now distributing 75,000 free copies to incarcerated individuals, prison libraries, and higher education/creative writing programs that are currently working with justice-involved comunities.
A copy can be requested online at https://t.co/ST7zHTQawK, or by writing to:

Prison Writing Program
c/o PEN America
588 Broadway, Ste. 303
New York, NY 10012

College Inside, a newsletter about prison education, is produced by Open Campus, a national nonprofit newsroom that covers college-in-prison programs, Pell Grants for incarcerated students, career and technical education, and education in juvenile justice facilities.

Sign up at https://www.opencampusmedia.org/college-inside/
…

INMATE SERVICES AT WORK

The Carden [Consulting] Group
P.O. Box 693
Jefferson City, MO 65102

10.13.22

Dear Carden Group,

To help better morale and perception in the case of the IDOC, I suggest you work with the Department to promote its current strategic goals to those of its clients it’s keeping in-custody. Though parts of their plan periodically shine through, the only means by which most of us have to come apprised in full is by submitting and sorting through public records requests. With nothing less than the morale of tens of thousands at stake–including extended networks through which our gripes all filter–I believe it would pay to share all goals through prison unit message boards, where they might not only be appreciated, but also help inspire.

Thank you for considering.

In friendship and incarceration,
Patrick Irving 82431
…

SUGGESTION BOX

I suggest that Centurion Health pick up the pace with boosters and flu shots. And while they’re at it, maybe also try returning once in a while to read our tuberculosis test results. With tuberculosis classified as a deadly, infectious disease, the company is continuing to place our staff and residents at risk.
…

Bam! Thanks to everyone who joined us for yet another monthly session.

Shout out to Mason, Yukari and the entire PJP family!

“B.O.B.”
— Outkast

Next: First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, Dec. ’22

Anne R.
Senior Editor, Reveal Digital
One Liberty Plaza/165 Broadway, 5th Fl.
New York, NY 10006

8.31.22

Hi Anne!

Good to hear that everything should transfer smoothly. I’ll be able to send the agreement back just as soon as I receive it. Unfortunately, my facility won’t allow stationery or envelopes to come through the mail, but no worries–I can handle the postage. If it really is important to compensate for this expense, the best way may be to just send it to my father. I say this because the fees associated with crediting my accounts would likely be more than whatever you send. If that’s okay with you, go ahead and send it…

… Thank you again for including me in your archives. One of the primary reasons I decided to launch my project was that I felt a crazy need to accurately preserve for historical reference Idaho’s current correctional state. To know that I’ve made your archives relieves my shoulders of ineffable weight.

I will forever be grateful.

Truly,
Patrick Irving 82431
IMSI
PO Box 51
Boise, ID 83707
bookofirving82431.com
Messaging via JPay.com

[Routed through JPay]
…

Professor E.
Cerebral Sensei
Justice Force, New York Branch
*Location: Undisclosed*

9.17.22

Hi Professor,

It’s good to hear back from you. It means a lot to receive such a strong level of encouragement and understanding from you and your students. I’m excited to get started.

Here are few ideas I’m looking to explore:

1) Though much research has been devoted to the effect that correctional therapies, postsecondary education and vocational training have on recidivism rates, I am personally not familiar with any studies that track the success rates of incarcerated individuals who act in leadership roles during incarceration. And by this I mean classroom assistants, instructors and mentors. I believe it would be interesting to study and compare the recidivism rates of those who have assumed these or similar roles at various points throughout incarceration–along with the rates of incarcerated authors and activists, who often times act in a leadership capacity by assuming responsibilities that carry the weight of a group.

It is my personal opinion that such research could be used to better illuminate the restorative properties of civic engagement.

Possible resources to work with this thought:

I am aware of a few organizations leading restorative justice programs (MILPA, Vera Institute), and others that focus on training formerly incarcerated leaders to civically engage and organize within their communities (Just Leadership USA, various Peace and Justice Projects and community projects). I have also read of civic groups in prison that work toward respectable goals (Inside Members and a women’s group featured in one of the first issues of the Marshall Project’s “News Inside”). And where my own DOC is said to have formed a resident advisory council (still a mystery to me), I suspect there may be others doing something similar.

2) Something else I would enjoy looking into are policies and laws for disposing of or donating prisoner property.

In Idaho, it’s our DOC’s policy to donate certain property confiscations (those marked by prisoners as “donate” instead of “dispose” or “send out”) to non-profit organizations, but it appears that no records are kept to verify this happens and no clear criteria to qualify recipients. Though the items confiscated aren’t exactly of high value, they are typically sold at costs capable of adding up significantly.

To me, the lack of record keeping and lack of qualifying criteria present concerns ranging everywhere from whether nonprofits ran by prison employees might be considered as eligible recipients, to whether prisoners possess the right to decide where their charity goes.*

One must also wonder if the property confiscated by private prison corporations can be similarly donated and then used as a charitable write-off.

Thank you again, Professor, and please extend my gratitude to your students. I’m excited to receive feedback on either train of thought.

* I’ve a public records request and grievance related to this issue linked to a few paragraphs in my First Amend This! August ’22 newsletter.

Kindly,
Patrick

[Sent over JPay]
…

Tyler Walton, Esq.
Jailhouse Lawyers Initiative
Bernstein Institute of Human Rights — NYU Law
139 MacDougal St, B23
New York, NY 10012

9.18.22

Dear Jailhouse Lawyers Initiative,

Thank you for sending another effective learning module from your national Legal Empowerment and Practice Series. As a journalist who frequently requests public records to inform on operations from within my DOC, I was elated to discover the focus of this module is the power to be pulled through the Freedom of Information Act. I found it a wonderful lesson that is sure to benefit many and I’m excited to hear the ways that others have been applying it.

The enclosed list was produced earlier this year, after I requested my DOC inform me of all cases they are currently litigating; I hope you’ll consider introducing your initiative to the plaintiffs still imprisoned. I suspect they’ll be excited to relay and participate in future efforts.

Cheers,
Patrick Irving
…

9.20.22

Hi Anne,

I’m afraid I don’t have any PDF versions. The only other format in which people view the newsy is when it’s printed off and sent the way I did the May issue, with the box in the top-right corner that says, “This monthly newsy and other creative and informative prison-lit can be found online @ bookofirving82431.com. Thanks for leaving this copy where others can read it.”

Also–I don’t know if you’ve seen it yet, but I signed CC-BY on the licensing agreement and returned it roughly a week ago. While I trust it to make it to you without any problems, please let me know if it doesn’t and we’ll try it again.

I hope all is well,
Patrick

[Routed through JPay]
…

Transparency Department
Idaho Department of Correction
1299 N. Orchard, Ste. 110
Boise, ID 83706

9-21-22

Dear Transparency Department,

I am still awaiting your response to two Resident Concern Forms I sent to you in July through institutional mail. One was an attempt to clarify how structured arrangements with outside organizations have been made without using MOUs and contracts; the other, an inquiry into several public records requests that have remained unfilled since April, regarding information pertaining to dealings with Keefe. These requests are necessary for follow-up on an article published in May that is expected to soon be republished by a national organization.

Enclosed is a copy of the IDOC newsletter in which both communications I am referring to have been printed. If you could see that they get the attention they’re entitled to, I will ensure that your effort serves the public’s interest.

In friendship and incarceration,
Patrick Irving 82431
…

Office of Professional Standards
Idaho Department of Correction
1299 N. Orchard, Ste. 110
Boise, ID 83706

9-21-22

Office of Professional Standards:

I am concerned with what appears to be a complete absence of records for the Inmate Management Fund and unreasonable delays in public records requested to examine the Department’s dealings with the Keefe Group. Both issues are described in the materials I’ve enclosed. Please give them the level of attention they deserve.

— Patrick Irving 82431
…

Harper’s Magazine
ATTN: Editor
666 Broadway
New York, NY 10012

9.21.22

Hello there,

You had me at “free issue.” And then I reviewed the titles that worked magic for your promo and envisioned us two scooting loftily tandem by the sea.

I don’t know what I’ll write for you yet… likely something that fits within your submission guidelines, should you be so generous as to return them in the envelope I’ve enclosed.

Also enclosed, you may notice, is one complementary issue of the monthly I piece together. Should you find yourself displeased enough to avoid a year subscription, I’ll ask that you not troll the fact they’re offered free online.

Redundantly,
Patrick Irving

[Attached: “First Amend This! Aug. ’22.”
…

Digital Articles Editor
The Harbinger, Review of Law and Social Change
110 W. 3rd St.
New York, NY 10012

9.22.22

Hi Lily,

Nice to hear from you. I appreciate the feedback on this month’s newsy. You’re right to say that Idaho appears to be making efforts to address longstanding issues within its correctional system. I would even go so far as to say our DOC’s current leadership team is proving to be the right kind of ambitious. Of course they remain limited by bureaucracy and politics, but any glimmer of hope is better than none…

…And here is some news that you may appreciate: I recently signed a Creative Commons agreement that will allow Reveal Digital to add all of my newsletters to JSTOR. The academic database is currently archiving two hundred years of prison newspapers, and I was able to convince them that mine belongs there too! It’s exciting to know that my work will be archived for curious individuals to sort through in the future.

Again, it was really nice to hear from you. And sorry to ruin the surprise of the card… I hope that it reaches you with out any issues.

If I’ve left you with questions, please let me know. You’re welcome to drop in for whatever reason anytime.

Take care,
Patrick

[Sent over JPay]
…

9.24.22

Hi Professor E!

Good to hear both queries will be enough to get us started. I am excited to see what your students return with and will eagerly await to unpack all their findings.

In the meantime, with the IDOC set to implement the Restoring Promise Program, I will begin inquiring into the ways that one applies to be a mentor and whether my participation might be viewed upon as detriment. I will likely also introduce myself to the Department’s research analyst, Dr. Janeena White (jawhite@idoc.idaho.gov), and offer to establish an open, working channel. But before doing that, I will ask my case manager to note in my file that we’re set to collaborate and open to suggestions.

Should you or your students have additional suggestions, I tend to regard all my own working projects as experiments in which observer participation is encouraged. So please don’t be shy, it’s an incredible privilege to be included your studies and I’m open to all ideas. Every single one!

I look forward to a lengthy, productive, empowering collaboration.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Truly,
Patrick

[Sent over JPay]
…

Bobby Wasabi
Friend on the Outside
(The names have been changed but the story is real.)

10.8.22

Hi Bobby,

Thank you for reaching out on behalf of Mr. West. Because my DOC has restrictions on inmate-to-inmate correspondence, I would need to submit a request for permission to correspond directly, and I’m afraid the odds of being approved aren’t all that good on my end. I will, however, be happy to try if you can provide me with the information needed to fill out the request.

In the meantime, I’ll see if I can’t find an alternative way to communicate. Should you or Kanye have suggestions, they would certainly be helpful. Otherwise, please be sure to check your messages in case I send new info.

Thank you again for your assistance, B. Your involvement means a lot!

— Patrick

[Sent over secret channels which one may never know.]
…

Evening Street Press
2881 Wright St.
Sacremento, CA 95281

10.9.22

Dear Evening Street Press/DIY Prison Project,

I found you listed in PEN America’s “The Sentences That Create Us” and am writing to ask under what guidelines you’re willing to accept submissions. Enclosed is a copy of the monthly newsy I write and a call to participate in the project I operate from prison. On page 3 of the newsy is a short poem titled “America,” in which I’ve managed to work into the title 50 stars and 13 stripes in a way that resembles the view from behind prison windows. You’re welcome to it if interested, as well as any of the work that can be found on my website. Of course, if it’s original work you’re after, I’ll be happy to follow whatever guidelines you set.

Thank you for your time and your efforts. I look forward to sharing you as resource for incarcerated writers.

Sincerely,
Patrick Irving

[Attached: First Amend This! Aug. ’22., Advocate Networking Request.]
…

The American Prospect
1225 I Street NW, ste. 600
Washington, D.C. 20005

10.9.22

Dear The American Prospect,

I am writing to ask under what guidelines you’re willing to accept submissions from prison and to introduce myself and my project, operated from within. Enclosed is an issue of the monthly newsletter I write and a networking request–both shared on my website with the rest of my work. In the event that it interests you, I recently licensed my newsy under Create Commons BY, to see it distributed it as widely as possible with the help of Reveal Digital, ITHAKA and the JSTOR platform.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration, I hope to be submitting sometime in the near feature.

Regards,
Patrick Irving

[Attached: “First Amend This! May ’22.”, Advocate Networking Request.]
…

All Rise Media
PO Box 2485
Portland, OR 97208

10.9.22

Dear All Rise Media,

I found you listed as a resource in PEN America’s “The Sentences That Create Us” and am writing to inquire on your guidelines for submissions. I have enclosed a copy of the newsletter I write and an outreach request that has served me from prison. Should you visit my site and find items of interest, I’ll be happy to see them shared and republished. Otherwise, I’ll look forward to submitting original work in the future.

Genuinely,
Patrick Irving 82431

[Attached: “First Amend This! July ’22“, Advocate Networking Request.]
…

The Beat Within
PO Box 34310
San Francisco, CA 94134

10.10.22

Dear The Beat Within,

Greetings from Idaho! After finding you listed as a youth resource in PEN America’s “The Sentences That Create Us,” I asked a friend to visit your site for a little more information. Upon discovering that your organization encourages literacy, self-expression, developing critical thinking skills and building healthy, supportive relationships with adults and the community, I thought it would be nice to introduce myself and few creative ways that I, too, attempt to check those boxes–this, of course, with the hope of inspiring a few of your youth members. Should those in your network have any questions, I’m happy to make myself available in whatever way I can.

Best wishes in all you do.

In friendship,
Patrick Irving

[Attached: “Built to Scale: A COVID-Proof Reflective Reading Program With Peer Support Components (Total Pilot Cost: $150)“, “First Amend This! June ’22“, Advocate Networking Request.]
…

Idaho Department of Correction
Attn: Research Analyst Dr. Janeena White
1299 N Orchard. St., ste. 110
Boise, ID 83706

10.11.22

Dear Dr. White,

Recently offered a small group of students, volunteered by their professor to collaborate with me on research, I thought to extend to you an invitation to keep apprised of our efforts and inform you that your feedback will be welcome anytime. One of the questions we are currently focused on is whether individuals placed in positions of leadership during incarceration recidivate differently than others. Should you come aware of any studies or data relevant to our quest, I ask that you consider dropping me a line.

Enclosed is treasure trail to other stuff I do–the newsletters are soon to be made available on JSTOR.

Luck in all your projects,
Patrick Irving 82431

[Enclosed: “First Amend This! May ’22“]
…

Type Media Center
Attn: Type Investigations, Inside/Out Journalism Project
30 Irving Pl., 10th fl.
New York, NY 10003

10.11.22

Dear Inside/Out Journalism Project,

I come by way of solitarywatch.org, from where your organization was credited with an article. I am writing to ask for your current submission guidelines and to be added to any lists that will allow for future updates. Enclosed is a copy of the monthly newsy I write; you’re welcome to share the link, where subscriptions are free, and reach out with questions, feedback, etc.

Thank you in advance for you time and consideration. I look forward to hearing back and submitting in the future.

Regards,
Patrick Irving

[Enclosed: “First Amend This! Aug. ’22“, Advocate Networking Request.]
..

Incarcerated Writers Initiative, Columbia Artists/Teachers
415 Dodge Hall
Mail Code 1804
2960 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

10.11.22

Dear Incarcerated Writers Initiative,

I found you listed as a resource in PEN America’s “The Sentences That Create Us” and am writing to ask of your guidelines for submission. Enclosed is a copy of the monthly I publish and a shameless request to be shared with your network. I hope you’ll not mind if I list you as a resource on my site; others will surely appreciate your initiative.

Many thanks,
Patrick

[Enclosed: “First Amend This! Sept. ’22“, Advocate Networking Request.]
…

The Carden [Consulting] Group
P.O. Box 693
Jefferson City, MO 65102

10.13.22

Dear Carden [Consulting] Group,

To help better morale and perception in the case of the IDOC, I suggest you work with the Department to promote its current strategic goals to those of its clients it’s keeping in-custody. Though parts of its plan periodically shine through, the only means by which most of us have to come apprised in full is by submitting and sorting through public records requests. With nothing less than the morale of tens of thousands at stake–including extended networks through which our gripes all filter–I believe it would pay to share all goals through prison unit message boards, where they might not only be appreciated but also help inspire.

Thank you for considering.

In friendship and incarceration,
Patrick Irving 82431
IMSI
PO Box 51
Boise, ID 83707
bookofirving82431.com
Messaging via JPay.com

[Attached: First Amend This! Sept. ’22]

May 2024 pricing update

December 2022 pricing update can be found here

Jump to 10-22-2022 update

The September 2022 Keefe Commissary pricelist can be viewed and downloaded here. Although this list was obtained through a public records request, it appears to be missing at least a few items. A few of the missing notables include:

#9480 Amp’d 15″ TV — $287.43
#7015 TV remote control (sold separately) — $13.79
#1272 Timex Ironman Watch T5k821 — $61.17
#3515 Digital alarm clock — $22.98

Those who are curious about the  items that are not listed in the document are welcome to inquire by commenting below, or through the Idaho Inmate Family Support Group on Facebook.

In order to illuminate how revenue sharing arrangements influence the way DOC contracts are awarded, the text below was transcribed from “Concession Services Agreement for Full Service Commissary Services and Account Management Services,” an agreement between Keefe and the Idaho Department of Correction. Other paragraphs from the contract are provided to show protocols and information that can be used in making additional pubic records requests.

Minimum Annual Guarantee (pg. 4, sec. 8)

For the Purposes of this Agreement, Keefe will remit to IDOC a minimum annual guarantee (MAG) commission of $1,250,000.00. The MAG will be split into 12 equal payments of $104,166.77 and is due by the 15th of each month for the prior month. The first MAG payment will be made by Keefe on or before June 15, 2015 and represents the MAG due for May, 2015. Payment of the MAG can be made by check or direct deposit/ ACH/ EFT transfer as mutually agreed in writing.

Revenue Sharing (pg. 4, sec. 9)

In addition to the MAG, Keefe shall pay a revenue sharing percentage of forty percent (40%) for all sales above Base Sales. By way of example only, if annual Gross Sales increase to $7,000,000 for the then-current Agreement Year ($7,000,000 – 6,150,000 = $850,000 * .40 = $340,000). Revenue sharing payments shall be paid to IDOC within thirty (30) days of the end of each Agreement Year with payment being made by check or direct deposit/ ACH/ EFT transfer as mutually agreed in writing.

Product Offerings (pg. 14, sec. 17.1)

Keefe shall provide a wide variety of products, to include a national name brand name and private label items, for shelf-stable (no refrigeration needed) products that include single-serve options for food stuffs as well as consumables, hard goods, clothing and electronics.

a. All product offerings must be approved in writing by IDOC prior to being made available to inmates.

b. Keefe may include its private label offerings provided such private label items make up no more than 35% of the master minimum custody and SecurePak menus combined.

c. IDOC reserves the right to make all product offering decisions and may require the removal from or refuse to allow the introduction of any product into IDOC Facilities at any time.

Pricing (pg. 15, sec. 17.3)

Keefe shall ensure that prices charged to Inmates for commissary items are comparable to cost of similar goods available at convenience stores within the Boise/Meridian/Nampa, Idaho marketplace and within the western U.S. state prison systems with similar full-service commissary programs, if any.

Pricing Changes (pg. 15, sec. 17.4)

After the first Agreement Year and annually thereafter, Keefe may request pricing adjustments by submitting a written request to the Contract Manager. Any such written request must include labor and overhead increases and/or market, wholesale and manufacturing justifications for any requested increase. Only those pricing changes that can be supported with objective market data, including any labor or overhead increases, will be considered. Any approved pricing changes will go into effect no sooner than (30) days after Keefe receives written approval from IDOC, if given. Keefe shall provide inmates with at least fifteen (15) days’ prior written notice of any price increase.

Commissary Review Committee Meeting (pg. 16, sec. 17.7)

IDOC shall conduct semi-annual Commissary Review Committee meetings. In accordance with SOP 406.02.01.001, these meetings shall consist of representatives from the Facilities, the Contract Manager, other IDOC staff, the commissary account manager, the warehouse/commissary operations supervisor and other employees as desired by Keefe.

Keefe may request product offering additions, deletions, or substitutions by submitting a written request to the Contract Manager at least forty-five (45) days’ prior to the meeting. Keefe is required to bring samples of new or substitute product offerings to the meetings for review and approval by IDOC. Samples will be retained by IDOC until all internal stakeholders have reviewed them and will then be returned to Keefe. Approved product offering adjustments and product removals, if any, will be implemented on a date mutually agreed to by Keefe and the contract manager and communicated to the Inmate population by Keefe at least fifteen (15) days in advance.

Regrettably, the following IDOC record requests that were  submitted April’22 have yet to be  provided in accordance with Idaho records law:

1. 1. 1. Keefe sales volume reports for the weeks of 7-15-21 and 1-21-22
      2. Notes, minutes and documents from the two commissary review committee meetings prior to 4-19-22, as well as all written requests submitted to the contract manager prior to these meetings
      3. Revenue payments made from Keefe to IDOC from March ’21 to March ’22.

I attempted to follow up on these requests in July, but as of September 20, 2022 the IDOC has only returned silence.

A May 2022 article describing questionable Keefe price increases was published earlier in First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, May ’22

*Update 10-22-2022*

The following message, received 10-21-2022, announces the return of several items taken off in May, with many marked up by more than 100% of their previous price. This despite Keefe confirming in an April 12 message that price increases would remain consistent with the consumer price index.

Per their contract with the IDOC, these prices could only be implemented with Department approval; but as of 10-22-2022, the Department has yet to provide the aforementioned public records requested in April, which are required to further audit its dealings with Keefe.

What follows has been reformatted to allow for easy transfer to a spreadsheet using comma separated values (CSV). Please check back for updates.

TO: IDOC RESIDENTS

FROM: KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK

DATE: 10-21-2022

Keefe Commissary’s new menu will go into effect on October 31, 2022. Below are the items that have been approved and will be available to purchase next month.

Item Number, Alias Number, Product, Price

5070, 6600, Cactus Annies Flour Tortillas, $2.03

382, 6502, Van Holten Kosher Zesty Pickles, $1.86

383, 6500, Van Holten Hot Pickles, $1.86

5360, 6195, Brushy Creek Premium Chicken Breast, $7.07

80001719, 3547, Brushy Creek Beef Summer Sausage 5oz, $4.27

80001721, 3546, Brushy Creek Beef Summer Sausage 5oz Hot, $4.27

629, 2397, Mountain Dew 20oz, $2.25,

80009328, 3274, Market Square Iced Honey Bun, $2.07

5375, 6201, Moon Lodge Microwave Popcorn Extra Butter, $0.93

4915, 2630, Brushy Creek Black Beans 10oz Pouch, $2.55

5368, 6215, El Pato Salsa Green Jalapeno 12 oz, $3.28

80003625, 3203, Painted Cow Cream Cheese 2oz, $0.89

8301201015, 8338, Snark Guitar Tuner, $40.00

80008841, 2796, Hereford Beef Barbacoa 6oz Pouch, $6.23

7914, 3107, Golden Valley Saltine Crackers, $4.27

4385, 6178, Fresh Catch Mackerel Fillets in Oil 3.53oz Pouch, $2.15

80008478, 1784, Colgate Toothpaste Optic White, $9.00

3092, 6673, Thai Palace Noodles Chili 3.7oz Pouch, $1.90

4935, 2664, Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese 3oz, $1.90

7551, 6607, Moon Lodge Peanuts Hot 1.75oz, $0.77

4466, 2340, Gatorade Drink Mix Lemon Lime 2.12oz, $1.45

80005732, 3026, Chattanooga Moon Pie Chocolate Double Decker 2.75oz, $1.19

80005515, 3039, Gamesa Maria’s Cookies 4.94oz, $1.20

80009462, 4901, Oscar Meyer Bacon (Precooked) 2.52oz, $11.64

21596, 784, Staydent Denture Adhesive Cream 2.4oz, $6.45

24310, 330, Athletes Choice Amino 100Ct, $19.40

2015, 6106, Pretzels 1.5oz, $0.90

10596, 2044, Paramount Creamer French Vanilla Non-Dairy 6.75oz, $2.40

10057, 3030, Market Square Cookies Vanilla Cremes 6oz, $1.90

10058, 3045, Market Square Cookies Duplex Cremes 6oz, $1.90

10446, 2737, Fritos Chili Cheese Corn Chips 2oz, $0.97

7689, 6167, Cheetos Cheese Crunch 2oz, $0.97

80002250, 8341, Halls Cough Drops (Sugar Free) Honey Lemon, $3.62

5112, 6165, Moon Lodge Potato Chips BBQ 6oz, $2.83

80007935, 8342, Werthers Candy (Sugar Free) 7.7oz, $12.10

80009303, 3052, Market Square Cookies Vanilla Wafers 12oz, $3.03

8032302002, 8356, Pro Club T-Shirt Heavyweight Long Sleeve Crewneck Sm Grey, $14.17

5310302002, 8370, Pro Club T-Shirt Short Sleeve Crewneck Small Grey, $11.70

21986, 3692, Goodsense Contact Solution Multipurpose No Rub 12oz, $7.31

Thank you,
Keefe Commissary

Previous: First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, Aug. ’22

Welcome to the September edition 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.

Friends and families are encouraged to join the Idaho Inmate Family Support Group (IIFSG) on Facebook or contact them at  idahoinmate@gmail.com.

Looking to help improve Idaho’s criminal justice system? We ask that you contact Erika 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.
…

EDITOR’S NOTE

As our humble prison newsletter begins to expand its presence, the editor is overcome by a sensational, screaming urge to evince his lone persistence for all future first-time readers…

Patrick Irving writes from the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, often cramped behind a desk, on the starboard side of the toilet, not infrequently rubbing shoulders while his cellie is taking the throne. It’s from this desk that he publishes the First Amend This! newsy, which offers a monthly look into the Idaho prison system and provides him with an outlet to seek “spEcial forMs oF recoUrse.” His experimental advocacy model–developed and refined with the help of his father–can be studied along with the scope of his work at bookofirving82431.com.

Let’s First Amend This!
…

IDAHO SUPREME COURT: GOVERNOR HAS AUTHORITY TO REJECT COMMUTATIONS

On August 23, the Idaho Supreme Court returned with a unanimous decision in a case questioning whether the Idaho Constitution grants the governor the authority to reject clemency recommendations from the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole.

Earlier this year, the Commission’s decision to commute Gerald Pizzuto’s sentence from death by lethal injection to life without parole was publicly scrutinized by Governor Brad Little, who quickly reeled back the Commission’s recommendation and promised the public the execution that they deserved.

Little’s authority to reject the commutation was immediately challenged by the nonprofit Federal Defender Services of Idaho, who represented Pizzuto in Idaho District Court.

After Nez Perce County Judge Jay Gaskill found in Pizzuto’s favor, Little appealed through the Idaho Supreme Court, which summonsed both sides to battle in June before returning two months later to award the governor the victory.

Said Governor Little in response to the Court’s decision: “As governor my job is to follow the law and ensure that lawful criminal sentences are carried out. A jury convicted Pizzuto of his crimes and he was lawfully sentenced to death. I denied Pizzuto’s commutation request so that the lawful and just sentences could be carried out as ordered by the court. Today, Idaho’s highest court recognized that I acted consistent with my legal duties and that Pizzuto’s death sentence remains valid.”

Pizzuto, convicted in 1986 of hammering two victims to death during the course of a robbery, has spent the last 36 years on Idaho’s Death Row lodging appeals to prevent his execution. He is currently living in hospice  care with terminal bladder cancer and is considered to be functioning with a diminished mental capacity.

According to Kevin Fixler with the Idaho Statesman, the Court’s opinion becomes final 21 days after it’s announced and Pizzuto’s attorneys may opt within that time to seek a rehearing. In the meantime, writes Fixler, the office of the Idaho attorney general is expected to seek to reinstate Pizzuto’s death warrant, which would signal his execution within the following within 30 days.

Source: Kevin Fixler, “Execution Case: Idaho Supreme Court Rules for Governor’s Authority in Clemency Decisions,” Idaho Statesman.
…

KTVB COVERS UNDERSTAFFING IN CORRECTIONS

Last month, IDOC Director Josh Tewalt discussed with Morgan Romero from Boise’s KTVB news the strain that understaffing has placed on his Department, the factors that have contributed to understaffing and the solutions that will be applied moving forward.

After tracing what last year was labeled as an exodus of staff to the challenges that were presented throughout the early course of COVID-19, Tewalt went on to describe moves made by the Department to refine recruitment methods and boost employee retention rates.

These efforts, he says, appear to be working, with staffing levels estimated at the time of his interview to be hovering right around 76%.

Though the number appears to be an improvement from the levels recorded in June — information this reporter had to wait roughly two months to receive while working on a story similar to Romero’s — questions remain as to how these numbers are tallied: After asking IMSI staff to review the staffing data that I was provided, I was told that they didn’t reflect their experience as the actual feet in the corridors.

In the month leading up to KTVB’s coverage, I marked the days during which my facility ran with normal operations, where staff are able to maintain an established, structured schedule, and residents can count on having time spent outside and in the dayroom. Of the 31 days sampled, only ten at IMSI ran according to schedule.

Fortunately, this was followed by a fairly dramatic improvement, where nearly every day turned back to normal operations; likely due to the new faces found amongst the staff.

Let’s hope they stick around.

Source: Morgan Romero, “Coping with a Cop Shortage: Idaho Department of Correction Seeing Residual Burn Out After the Pandemic,” KTVB.com
…

COLLEGES CLASSES BEGIN AT ICI-O, BUT LET’S NOT FORGET THOSE WHO NEED THEIR GED

On August 22, approximately 25 residents of the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino (ICI-O) attended the first for-credit classes to be offered by Lewis-Clark State College.

Along with the University of Idaho, L-C State was recently chosen to participate in the third round of the Second Chance Pell Experiment, a Department of Education initiative launched in 2015 to provide incarcerated people with more attainable postsecondary education opportunities.

Approximately 50 residents from ICI-O and Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center are expected to participate this year in the following classes: math, political science, business, geography, communications, psychology and philosophy.

According to IDOC Director Josh Tewalt, the Department plans to offer postsecondary education opportunities within all in-state prisons by 2024: “The research is clear that people who have advanced degrees tend to have higher rates of success after incarceration, and I want you to be successful. The Parole Commission and community employers will surely take notice. I encourage you to seriously consider taking advantage of Pell course offerings in the future.”

Those interested in enrolling are encouraged to remain six months DOR-free, be program compliant and complete their GEDs at the earliest opportunity.

Unfortunately, for many these tasks remain difficult, due in large part to our ongoing staffing crisis and a lack of instructors and seats in the classroom. At IMSI alone, roughly one-third of the resident population are awaiting an opportunity to earn their GED. Says Mr. Robertson, the facility’s only educator, while he’s capable of tutoring up to 12 students a day, facility staffing issues often leave them without the escort that they require to get to the classroom. And for those pursuing their GED from below the sixth-grade level, he unfortunately hasn’t the bandwidth to bring them up to speed.

Source: Lewis-Clark State College. Author unknown, “Lewis-Clark State Kicks Off In-Person Classes at Correctional Facility in Orofino,” BigCountryNewsConnection.Com
…

NOW AVAILABLE: $2.5M IN PRE-PROSECUTION DIVERSION PROGRAM GRANTS

“We’re trying to better understand where are the gaps in services that Idahoans need and can’t get. Part of that, too, is how that intersects with the criminal justice system. Where can we create off-ramps for people who might have a mental illness or substance use disorder needs that they’re not able to address on their own?” — IDOC Director Josh Tewalt

Earlier this year, in support of a strategic plan submitted by the Idaho Behavioral Health Council (IBCH), the Idaho Legislature approved $2.5M to be used for developing pre-prosecutory, community treatment options that would allow non-violent criminal offenders with substance abuse issues or mental health disorders to avoid being prosecuted and forming a criminal record.

That money is now available to local government agencies. Those interested in providing new solutions by partnering with community treatment providers are invited to apply for Idaho’s new Pre-Prosecution Diversion (PPD) Grant Program.

Applications are now being accepted by the IDOC, who will pass them after screening to the IBCH for review. Stakeholders from state law enforcement, Health and Welfare, the judiciary, and Idaho Legislature who comprise the IBCH are said to be responsible for making final decisions.

The project period is scheduled to remain open from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023; though, renewals and extensions may be granted into 2023.

Some of the services applicants may request funding for include:

• • • Case management
    • Behavioral Therapy
    • Psychiatric services
    • Substance use and detoxification treatment
    • Housing and employment support
    • Mobile emergency response
    • Training for personnel
    • Benefits enrollment
    • Expanded family wellness treatment

The IBCH may consider the following:

• • • Will program participants be required to secure or be appointed defense counsel before applying for the program?
    • How will alleged crimes be assessed for entry into the program?
    • Will a participant’s entry into the program require a victim’s approval?
    • What is the selection process for program participants?
    • In what way will restitution play into the program?
    • How might the program assess substance abuse, trauma, and whether participants pose a danger to self or others?
    • How will the program address individuals who are experiencing early psychosis?
    • Will participants be required to check in? Who will the participants be checking in with?

This project’s success will be evaluated based on data and reports required by grant recipients to submit for review on a schedule.

Those interested may email applications or questions to grants@idoc.idaho.gov.

Sources: Tristan Lewis, “IDOC’s Investing In State and Local Mental Health Programs to Reduce Crime,” ktvb.com. IDOC Pre-Prosecution Diversion Grant Program.
…

AN UPDATE ON TREATMENT AND TESTING FOR HEPATITIS C

After a notice was posted to my unit’s message board in February, announcing that IDOC was proposing to settle a class action lawsuit brought over insufficient medical care for clients infected with Hepatitis C (Turney v. Atencio), I submitted a medical request to be tested for the virus, curious of the way such requests might now be screened.

Within a day I was confronted by a nurse from the doorway that leads to the slab of concrete called rec. With a CO by her side, and in front of several others, she demanded my reasons for wanting to be tested– perhaps seeking some admission that pertained to pipin’ dudes, collecting new tattoos or sharing dirty needles. When I cited the lawsuit, she requested the court order. And that was the last I heard until the season had twice changed.

Comes August 20, precisely six months later, and I find myself informed in a much more private room that someone will arrive first thing in the morning to take my blood for testing. “Sorry for the delay.”

When prodded, the practitioner explained the contention I received from the nurse. “There have been difficulties getting everyone on the same page.” She then recommended to me that I recommend to others that they request to get tested while the testing is good.

That same day, I watched as treatment began for another; one pill after dinner for the next ninety days and he’ll be cured of the infection he’s been harboring for years.

Please pass the news and encourage your loved ones to get tested for the virus, regardless of whether they feel there is a need to be tested.
…

RESIDENT WRITER’S WORK APPEARS IN ‘SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE INSIDE’ SERIES

A collection of articles selected from the First Amend This! newsletter was recently featured by the New York University School of Law’s online publication The Harbinger, in a series titled “Scholarship from the Inside.”

The Harbinger kindly introduced the selected articles with this statement:

The Harbinger is proud to present selected works of Patrick Irving. Irving writes First Amend This!, a monthly newsletter that offers a firsthand look into the Idaho prison system, drawing from his personal experiences in a maximum security institution. Irving writes with a sharp eye toward injustice, documenting day-to-day deprivations and abuses that plague the system. His scathing sense of humor percolates throughout his detailed accounts, creating a unique voice that powerfully critiques his surroundings.

The Harbinger is pleased to share four pieces from various issues that Mr. Irving and those in Idaho prisons have confronted over the past few years.

In return, Mr. Irving sent The Harbinger a Patrick-from-Sponge Bob, prison makeshift thank-you card, filled with messages of gratitude from those who share his unit and appreciate The Harbinger for helping us voice  our concerns.
…

COVID NEWS

Since the start of COVID-19, the IDOC has administered over 76,851 tests to those of its clients it’s keeping in-state. More than 6,800 have been  reported as positive since testing started.

Kevin Dayton with Honolulu Civil Beat reports that more than twenty Hawaiian prisoners returning from a CoreCivic facility, that is also holding IDOC overflow, have tested COVID-positive. In response, Hawaii’s Department of Public Safety has ordered CoreCivic to test all Hawaiian prisoners held at the facility.

As IDOC no longer displays testing information for Idaho prisoners held out-of-state, we are unable to inform whether ours, too, will be tested for safety.

Due to a recent climb in COVID levels, visitation remains disrupted at one or more facilities. Please view the Department’s website for updates on:

• • • East Boise Community Reentry Center
    • Idaho Maximum Security Institution
    • Idaho State Correctional Center
    • Idaho State Correctional Institution
    • South Boise Women’s Correctional Center
    • South Idaho Correctional Institution
    • Treasure Valley Community Reentry Center
    • Nampa Community Reentry Center

Those who have received their initial vaccination are encouraged by the Department to follow up with booster shots.

Residents experiencing issues related to COVID are invited to forward exhausted grievances to:

ACLU Idaho
PO Box 1897
Boise, ID 83701

View IDOC’s COVID report here.
…

RENICK ON THE RADIO

With five 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 an advocacy arm of St. Vincent de Paul, shares what it’s like to live incarcerated in Idaho and come out of incarceration to live life on parole.

After starting in 2006 as an intern in SICI’s Education Department, Daina Drake coursed through various facilities in multiple capacities. Most recently she beat out a widespread field of candidates to become the Department’s newest Reentry Manager. Last month she joined Mark to discuss her new position and the goals that she’s working toward for all seven Idaho districts.

Rebecca White, with Moonlight Mountain Recovery, understands the holistic nature of recovery and the work required to overcome the stigma of incarceration. Freshly pardoned and in the process of becoming a certified drug and alcohol counselor, Rebecca also joined Mark on his show last month to share her perspective obtained as a formerly incarcerated, active force in our community.

Visit svdpid.org for reentry resources and programs available in Southern Idaho.
…

RESIDENT AUDITING 101

This month it was discovered that IDOC has a Research & Statistics Department, which is responsible for providing “statistical reports, business analytics and independent research that is critical to the agency and the public,” including the following yearlies:

— Citizen Centric Report
— Incarcerated Population Report
— Community Population Report
— Annual Community Gap Analysis
— Justice Reinvestment Initiative Impact Report
— Timely Release Report
— IDOC Program Effectiveness Report

June’s public record request for facility staffing levels was delivered incomplete and arrived in the middle of August. Between March and June, the highest recorded facility vacancy rate was 29% at ISCI. After consulting with staff whose experience indicated a different reality, it’s suspected that “staffing levels” include employees in training and employees taking leave.

A request for all Pre-Prosecution Diversion Grant applications and awards returned August 25 with “no records found.”

April’s requests for the following have yet to be filled:

1. 1. 1. Keefe sales volume reports for the weeks of 7-15-21 and 1-21-22
      2. Notes, minutes and documents from the two commissary review committee meetings prior to 4-19-22, as well as all written requests submitted to the contract manager prior to these meetings
      3. Revenue payments made from Keefe to IDOC from March ’21 to March ’22

…

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR INCARCERATED PERSONS

Thanks to Charlotte West with the College Inside newsletter for introducing us to “The Sentence That Creates Us,” a new book focused on writing behind bars. This book features the work of more than fifty writers, most of whom are justice-involved themselves. Its pages are filled with advice, inspiration and resources available to incarcerated individuals.

PEN America is now distributing 75,000 free copies of this book to individuals in prison, as well as to higher education, prison libraries and creative writing programs working with justice-involved communities. A copy can be requested online here, or by writing to:

Prison Writing Program
c/o PEN America
588 Broadway, Ste. 303
New York, NY 10012

College Inside, a newsletter about prison education, is produced by Open Campus, a national nonprofit newsroom that covers college-in-prison programs, Pell Grants for incarcerated students, career and technical education, and education in juvenile justice facilities.

Sign up at https://www.opencampusmedia.org/college-inside/
…

INMATE SERVICES AT WORK

8.22.22

To: Prison Journalism Project
Re: Keefe Confounds ‘Em With Tactical Math

I can confirm that I did receive the Keefe contract through a records request.

As a prison journalism organization, you may be interested to know that I have created a section in my newsletter called “Resident Auditing 101.” This is where I update others on which requests I, the Resident Auditing Committee (RAC), has coming or going. When there are unreasonable delays for record requests, I try to bring attention to those as well–sometimes through fiscal policy groups, sometimes through legislators or various local media. It’s a bit of an experimental model, as are most of those I’m playing with…

I have it in my mind that the RAC is to act as an introduction to a much larger project, through which I intend to promote the idea that civic engagement has restorative properties and that prisoners/returning citizens should never be discouraged from having lost their right to vote–as there is still plenty they can do to help shape their families’ future.

I hope your organization will consider adapting and promoting some part of this model, perhaps in your newsletter, or maybe some other way.

Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Cheers,
Patrick Irving 82431
…

SUGGESTION BOX

I suggest the Department share its Current Strategic Plan with its clients, either by posting it to unit message boards or presenting it through JPay. I suggest this because:

After coming aware myself
through a friendly,
foreign helper,
I found myself
infected,
strangulated
by positive outlook,
prophylactically
protected from
promiscuous cynics
among us.
…

Shout-out from Chad to Old Man Hollon: Happy 81st, now diaper-sheath that wiener!

“Problem”
— Method Man

next: First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, Oct. ’22 (The Ad-Seg Issue)

Previous: First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, July ’22

Welcome to the August 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.

Friends and families are encouraged to join the Idaho Inmate Family Support Group (IIFSG) on Facebook or contact them at  idahoinmate@gmail.com.

Looking to help improve Idaho’s criminal justice system? We ask that you contact Erika 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.
…

EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome back students and educators!

I hope you’ll take the time to catch up on events from this summer by flipping through the last few issues and exploring all the links.

For those of you who are interested, I’ve taken to soliciting unpaid perspective to provide our monthly readers with views other than my own. So if you’re interested in avenues to earn karma credits, consider introducing this newsy to your class for discussion, contributing an article or sharing a resource with us.

Fact-checks, critiques and opinions are all welcome. Same goes for questions, concerns, feedback, hellos…

Contact:

Patrick Irving #82431
IMSI
PO Box 51
Boise, ID 83707
messaging via JPay
bookofirving82431.com

Let’s First Amend This!
…

IDOC UNABLE TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INMATE MANAGEMENT FUND, SWEETENERS FROM CORPORATIONS AND HOW THEY’RE PUT TO USE

Sweeteners – Incentives offered by companies who seek exclusive access to a niche and captive market that will bend to every whim.

IMF – The acronym assigned to “the Inmate Management Fund,” which was first discovered in May within a legally-binding contract to be returning a portion of their inmate communications fees to be used “in the interest of prisoners’ welfare.”

CenturyLink – Contracted by the Department to provide prisoners with the means to communicate with loved ones and others in the free world.

The Contract – C014-017: Concessions Services Agreement for Inmate Communication and Kiosk-Based Technology Access. Take a taste and numb your gums with the section found below.

16.1 ADP FEE

CenturyLink shall pay IDOC a flat fee that utilizes IDOC’s average daily population (ADP) as the basis for the calculation (ADP Fee). The ADP Fee is used by IDOC to fund the Inmate Management Fund (IMF), which promotes the welfare of Inmates through services, programs and physical purchases. The ADP Fee is calculated by multiplying the prior month’s ADP for all Facilities by twenty dollars and no/100 ($20.00). By way of example, IDOC’s ADP for July 1, 2013 through July 31, 2013 was 7385, so the calculation for the July 2013 ADP Fee is: 7385 x 20 = $147,000.

This profit model, though antiquated, will forever remain to be genius: acquire by silent auction imprisoned populations and then charge inflated rates to those who wish for their release.

—————————————————-
****|****|****|****|****|****|*
!!!AME –> / <– RICA???
****|****|****|****|****|****|*

Too many a path
we pave
through
our people’s
broken homes,
lobbied by the likes
of pious corporations
who shape our country’s laws
to expand their market value.

——————————————————

And here we are now: still reeling from the recent cost increase for JPay messaging, wondering for what purpose the IMF is used.

Twice now, the IDOC has refused to provide its Resident Auditing Committee (RAC), of which I am the founder, with IMF policies, balance sheets, transactions and activities. After refusing the first time for rather suspect reasons — why would the IMF, a fund used to promote prisoner welfare, contain even one prisoner’s personal banking information? — the RAC requested ANY information that might help to illuminate how the fund is used. This public record request was also denied, for the one existing document related to this fund is purportedly protected by Attorney/Client privilege.*

The lack of public records for a fiscal fund that poses a risk as a funnel for corporate influence is a mystery. One can’t help but be intrigued by the fact that the only document with the potential to bring light onto the fund is the subject of matters that require an attorney — as opposed to the subject of matters that require an accountant, who (we hope) would be able to answer the following questions:

1) Do the last three years of IMF activities reflect the periods when programs and activities eased to a standstill as a result of understaffing and operational shut downs?

2) If not, for what purposes were scheduled withdrawals justified by the Department; were they reallocated for the purpose of adapting to new challenges, or were they itemized per usual despite everything being different?

On June 29 this reporter informed the Record Custodian he was still attempting to follow up on the IMF reference made in Contract C014-017: “[This company is] paying IDOC with the understanding that their moneys will be added to the IMF and used to the benefit of facility residents. I would like to see how much money has been placed in this fund over the last three years, by whom, and for what purposes this money has been used. Balance sheets would be helpful, as would any proposals or plans.”

At time of publication (Aug. 23, 2022), there has been no response to this request from the Record Custodian.

*Last month it was reported that a request for IMF records returned with an $871.54 invoice. We have since learned the invoice belonged to an unrelated request. Apologies for any confusion.
…

REPORTERS RELY ON PUBLIC RECORD REQUESTS. TO DELAY THEM OBSTRUCTS A STORY. WHY ARE SO MANY DELAYED?

You may not know this but…

This reporter goes through great pains every month to cover the correctional beat from within. As you might expect, I find it difficult to concentrate on anything in my current constantly shifting environment. In addition to the environmental noise, extra effort is also required to access the information needed to present on such matters while upholding a certain standard of accuracy . That information isn’t always as forthcoming as our codes and laws require.

Per IDOC Policy 108.00.01.01 (Public Record Requests) and IDAPA 06.01.01.108, the day-to-day business operations of the Department are meant to be made available upon a request. This includes the Board of Correction meeting minutes, relevant legislation, contracts, budget information, financial records, correspondence, policies and procedures, program information and program audits; and responses to requests made by email, mail or fax must be returned to the inquirer within three working days.

And yet…

7-23-2022
To: Transparency Department
From: Patrick Irving

Three public records requests from April were never filled: 1) Keefe sales volume reports for the weeks of 1-21-22 and 7-15-21; 2) notes, minutes and documents presented at the two commissary review committee meetings prior to 4-19-22, as well as all written requests submitted to the contract manager to be discussed at these meetings; 3) a request for twelve months of revenue payments made from Keefe to IDOC (from 3-21 to 3-22). These requests have been made for public disclosure. Please see them filled without further delay.

These queries were made after Keefe Commissary creatively increased the costs of certain items to a degree that far exceeded the Consumer Price Index. (FAT! May ’20.) Minus this information we’re obstructed from learning whether the increases were proposed in accordance with the contract that rewards IDOC with a healthy share of profits.

Information pertaining to daily operations is also experiencing unusual delays: After being alerted by multiple prison employees in June that at least two of our prisons are operating with staffing levels of less than 50%, a request for confirmation was sent to Central Office. Because the Department has yet to respond, this reporter is forced to validate the stress put on our staff by presenting an anecdote instead of cold, hard data: Ongoing concerns with facility operations, constitutional violations, talk of strike from medical workers — nothing’s really changed since the coverage we got last year, and it’s hard to say what, if anything, will.

Requests for memorandums of understanding, contracts and arrangements for publicitous partnerships beneficial to the Department are also encountering unusual responses — in that several are said to simply not exist.

7-23-2022
To: Transparency Manager

I’m looking to understand to what extent several organizations have involved themselves with IDOC; whether they’re being paid, operating with some criteria or simply being allowed in our facilities to do whatever with whomever they want. Please help me to understand what’s going on here: how are these organizations proposing their services, coming to agreement and undergoing evaluations?

Without the ability to critically examine information related to government operations, the citizenry is unable to ascertain the extent of ongoing issues, the causes and effects, the urgent need for more solutions…

Sources: Idaho Code Section 74-103. IDOC Policy 108 00 001.
…

NO RECORD OF CHARITIES, HISTORY OF DONATIONS: WHO’S SECRETLY BENEFITTING FROM CORRECTIONAL CONFISCATIONS?

For decades, Idaho’s prison population has been offered the option to donate their personal property to charity. From electronics and clothing to art products and food, all purchased in prison at inflated cost, mountains of gear, following confiscation, have allegedly been donated to unspecified charities. The total value of these items, after years of accumulation, can safely be estimated to reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Yet no record of this charity has ever been kept, making it impossible to distinguish the recipients of prisoner donations, the criteria by which they’re chosen and the rate at which they benefit.

It’s a matter first confirmed by way of a public record request: when it was found that transactional proof could not be produced to show that resident donations reach a charitable cause.

With the DOC unable to offer names of its charities, the criteria by which they’re chosen and at least one receipt showing a charitable transaction, this reporter lodged a grievance as a resident donor, attempting to compel the Department into responsible record keeping. Several months later, all appeals exhausted, the DOC’s refusal to keep any records was final. To collect even a signature from those benefitting would amount, in their words, to a monumental task.

IDOC clients are confident that they know better. By collectively combining their business experience, they find it simple to surmise that either someone is being lazy or that “charitable recipients” aren’t charities at all. With the weight of the latter a heavy concern, they have called for the attention of the Department of Justice, investigative journalists and Idaho policy groups. Seeking to inspire either audit or injunction, they’d also like to take part in the choosing of future recipients.

Click here to view the public record request, subsequent grievance and other related items.

[This article originally appeared in FAT! March ’22.]
…

FORMER IDAHO REPRESENTATIVE PARDONED WHILE IN OFFICE NOW SEEKING TO AVOID BEING SENTENCED FOR RAPE

Fifty-six days prior to committing what a jury would later deem to be the rape of a nineteen-year-old legislative assistant, former Idaho Representative Aaron von Ehlinger received a pardon from the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole for a litany of crimes spanning back to his youth.

During an interview on Idaho Matters, a Boise State Public Radio show hosted by Gemma Gaudette, reporter George Prentice described how, between 1996 and 2013, von Ehlinger was charged with as many as fifteen offenses on eight separate occasions, including drug possession, drunk and reckless driving, distributing alcohol to minors and carrying a concealed weapon while drinking.

Prentice discovered while pouring through records that, in December 2019, at the time von Ehlinger petitioned the Commission to be pardoned for his past, he was preparing to be appointed to an open seat in the Idaho House of Representatives.

Just days after being sworn into his seat in January 2021, von Ehlinger received a pardon for all offenses committed prior. Fifty-six days after receiving this pardon, following an outing with a young legislative assistant, he committed an act that would result in a felony rape conviction.

Currently incarcerated and awaiting his sentence, von Ehlinger is now petitioning to delay his sentencing hearing while he argues to either be retried or immediately acquitted.

Judge Mike Reardon has agreed to hear him out; in what many may consider an unusual proceeding, von Ehlinger will appear before Reardon on August 25 to argue the reasons he should not be sentenced.

Source: George Prentice, Idaho Matters 7.28.22, Boise State Public Radio.
…

APPROVED VENDORS FOR BOOKS HAVE CHANGED

The Department has recently revised its list of approved book vendors.

ThriftBooks is back on the list!

The new list follows.

• • • Edward R Hamilton
    • ThriftBooks
    • Discover Books
    • More than Words
    • Prison Book Program
    • Books a Million
    • Books N Things
    • Sure Shot Books
    • The Womens Prison Book Project

Books, magazines, newspapers and other publications such as monthly or daily calendars, journals etc. that are mailed directly from the publisher are still allowed.

Residents requiring textbooks for course work can contact their facility’s Education Department for assistance.
…

COVID NEWS

Since the start of COVID-19, the IDOC has administered over 73,185 tests to those of its clients it’s keeping in-state. More than 6,780 of those tests have returned some form of positive.

Due to a climb in COVID levels, visitation has been disrupted at several facilities. Please view the Department’s website for updates on:

• • • East Boise Community Reentry Center
    • Idaho Maximum Security Institution
    • Idaho State Correctional Center
    • Idaho State Correctional Institution
    • South Boise Women’s Correctional Center
    • South Idaho Correctional Institution
    • Treasure Valley Community Reentry Center
    • Nampa Community Reentry Center
    • Twin Falls Community Reentry Center

Those who have received their initial vaccination are encouraged by the Department to follow up with booster shots.

Residents experiencing issues related to COVID are invited to forward exhausted grievances to:

ACLU Idaho
PO Box 1897
Boise, ID 83701

View IDOC’s COVID report here.
…

ICIO THERAPY DOG HELPS RESIDENT WITH DEMENTIA
by ICIO Warden Temera Carlin

Recently, Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino had an incident where a long-time resident was digressing due to dementia and was non-compliant for staff. This resident had spent many years with the facility dog, Lady, before starting to lose his memory. During the incident it was determined that the resident needed to be transported to the hospital, but he refused to get in the wheelchair. Staff on site asked for lady to be brought to the housing unit. Upon seeing Lady, the resident immediately became compliant, got in the wheelchair and was escorted to the ambulance by medical staff and Lady. Her presence that day made all the difference for the resident in need, the residents on the unit, and the staff that were working that day.

Unfortunately, the resident was unable to return to ICIO due to the seriousness of his medical condition. The transport team, Ofc. Bandolino and Lt. Heun, did an amazing job showing care and concern for the resident. A special shout-out to ISCI, who put together a transport team on short notice to meet us halfway.

[This story first appeared on the IDOC website, from where it was pulled as an official public record.]
…

RENICK ON THE RADIO

With five 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 an advocacy arm of St. Vincent de Paul, shares what it’s like to live incarcerated in Idaho and come out of incarceration to live life on parole.

Last month, former IDOC Reentry Manager Tim Leigh appeared on Renick’s show to announce that he is now working as the Reentry Curriculum Development Manager for St. Vincent de Paul. With a focus on expanding existing reentry services, Leigh will also explore more ways to help returning citizens get credited for the programs and training they started while incarcerated.

Laurie Erickson, who is formerly incarcerated and living in Idaho, was arrested after receiving a request to complete her voter registration and later following through with what she felt was her civic duty. National Memo columnist Chandra Bozelko, who spent six years incarcerated on the other side of the country, was legally allowed to vote on probation. Last month Renick welcomed the two to discuss the circumstances leading to Laurie’s arrest and the consequences that followed her four months time in jail.

Visit svdpid.org for reentry resources and programs available in Southern Idaho.
…

RESIDENT AUDITING 101

Following up on our quest to discover IDOC’s involvement with “The Preseason” Hustle 2.0 Program, an IMSI case manager informed us the program is being offered by an unspecified third party and moving slower than expected with no start in sight. No records of this program have been found through Central Office.

A request for the number of prisoner suicides over the last three years found that, of ten victims, eight were male and two were female.

— Of those male: five had medium-custody classifications, three were classified at close custody; six were residing in beds designated for mental or behavioral health, one was residing in short-term restrictive housing, the other in general population; five of the eight were in a single cell, which, according to the Department, may qualify as isolation.

— Of those female: one was completing a rider, the other was classified at medium custody. According to the Department, at the time of death both were residing in beds designated for mental health, but neither appears to have been in isolation. Though the cells they were in had multiple bunks, it has yet to be specified whether the other bunks were filled.

A separate request, responded to July 13, informed us that out of 9,086 residents in IDOC custody, 134 are currently serving Life Without Parole.

Last month it was reported that a request for information pertaining to the Inmate Management Fund (IMF) was returned with an invoice for $871.54. This was reported in error; the invoice belonged to a request for information related to IDOC’s involvement with AccompishEd Ventures. The IMF, it appears, has thus far evaded any form of public record.

Residents who wish to view the Centurion Health medical contract can now do so with a JPay tablet by clicking on the Handbook icon and scrolling to the bottom.
…

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES FOR INCARCERATED PERSONS

Those returning from prison to the greater Treasure Valley will find in the offices of St. Vincent de Paul the most comprehensive day-one service Southwestern Idaho currently has to offer.

Focused on informing the freshly released of available resources and services, this organization assists returning citizens in obtaining bus passes, clothing vouchers, food assistance, telephones and more.

Those being released without a ride can ask their case manager to email this day-one service for a pickup. A volunteer will arrive at the time of release and help meet immediate needs with a limited shuttle service.

District 3
Monday – Friday, 10am – 2pm
Canyon County Probation and Parole Offices
3110 Cleveland Blvd., Bldg. D
Caldwell, ID 83605

District 4
Monday – Friday, 9am – 12pm
3217 Overland Blvd.
Boise, ID 83705

For more information visit svdpid.org.
…

INMATE SERVICES AT WORK

7-9-22
To: Education
From: Patrick Irving

I’ve managed to arrange a sizeable GED study group from my [cohort]. All have agreed to start with math and understand that group time will be scheduled during dayroom. Moving forward, I’d like to approach our facility admin with the idea of allowing [this group] to study in our unit’s multi-purpose room. Please be advised that I will be running this idea through our case manager, unit sergeant and assistant warden this week.

If you can offer any recommendations of materials that can be used to successfully lead this group, I would certainly appreciate it; this is fairly new for me.

Thanks.

—

7-12-22
From: Educator Roberston
To: Patrick Irving

I have notified Deputy Warden Wessels that I approve of this effort and I am scheduling time for you and the group to take a TABE. I am creating a class section for your group and if there is improvement in your TABE test scores after you complete the workbook, I will schedule Math GED tests for anyone willing to take it.

When you come to take your TABE, I will give you some supplies and a workbook. The way the book is designed is to work on a fundamental first (rounding, estimating, adding, subtracting, multiplying). Usually only one more skill is added with each new day. I will offer you some time to learn some basic teaching skills. I would like this to be a success for you and the men you are helping. Since I cannot be everywhere at once or even bring all the people I would like to Education, this is a tremendous service to your peers and a great help to me. If it works it can be modeled for similar programs in every unit. I look forward to your success.

…

SUGGESTION BOX

I suggest those of our staff who are looking to earn their worth put a bug in the ear of our Idaho lawmakers before the budget for next year begins to hit their desks. Your district representatives’ info can be found at this link. Republican or Democrat, they’ll benefit from your feedback.
…

Thanks for coming to visit, we’ll see you again next month.

Shout of from Twenty-Eight to Jana: nothin’ but love and respect, love and respect…

“I Couldn’t Explain Why”
— Citizen Cope

Next: First Amend This!: An IDOC Newsletter, Sept. ’22

Book Of Irving 82431 is honored to announce that a selection of articles from the FAT!  monthly newsletters have been published by The Harbinger, a New York University School Of Law publication, in their series “Scholarship from the Inside”.

The Harbinger introduces the selected articles with this statement:

The Harbinger is proud to present selected works of Patrick Irving. Irving writes First Amend This!, a monthly newsletter that offers a firsthand look into the Idaho prison system, drawing from his personal experiences in a maximum security institution. Irving writes with a sharp eye toward injustice, documenting day-to-day deprivations and abuses that plague the system. His scathing sense of humor percolates throughout his detailed accounts, creating a unique voice that powerfully critiques his surroundings.

The Harbinger is pleased to share four different pieces from various issues of First Amend This! Together, they offer snapshots of different issues that Mr. Irving and those in Idaho prisons have confronted over the past few years. 

The selection includes four of our favorite articles that highlight important issues in Patrick’s unique style. BookOfIrving82431.com highly recommends a visit to The Harbinger to browse this and other articles from incarcerated authors, students and faculty.