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2002 Press Releases
November 27 - Thanksgiving tent goes up at 4pm
Thanksgiving
tent goes up at 4pm If you need a ride or the van pick-up schedule call: 343-8682. About the meal: This is the 5th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Cazba's. The First United Methodist Church joined Cazba's two years ago to feed the hungry. This year's meal is from Noon-5pm. No reservations are necessary. If you need a Thanksgiving dinner just come. About the new help: SICI work crews fight fires, provide maintenance for Gowen Field and help with road projects. They also provide community service like the Thanksgiving project. The offenders are minimum and community custody within one year of release. The work and public service helps ease their transition back to society.
Back to Top
Female
prison population expected to grow at 18%
News
Release- November 27, 2002
Boise--A
new forecast predicts that the number of females in Idaho prisons will grow an
average of 18% each year for the next four years. That is double the 8.5%
average annual increase projected for the male prison population. Department of
Correction analyst Greg Sali did the number crunching on the forecast. He says
the female numbers reflect several things, "Drugs crimes are the number one
reason females are incarcerated. Property crimes are second. Most of the crimes
women are involved in are non-violent."
IDOC
Director Tom Beauclair says the forecast helps the department be more cost
effective, and the female population numbers have the department exploring
creative solutions. "We should recognize the need for more community based
treatment and diversion alternatives. The facts are that the female population
presents the lowest risk to society and many could be handled more appropriately
in their own communities. The judges, probation officers and the parole
commission need community-based alternatives. This also could be done at a lower
cost than incarceration."
The
Forecast Advisory Committee approved the revised annual forecast this month. The
forecast also indicates the current growth trends will continue. It projects:
·
An average annual increase of 8.5% per year for prisons with 350 new offenders
in FY03 for a total of 6152 incarcerated offenders in FY03.
·
An average annual increase of 6.9% per year in supervised offenders with 493 new
parole and probation clients in FY03 for a total of 8966 supervised offenders in
FY03.
·
At the end of FY02 (June 30, 2002) there were 5802 incarcerated offenders and
8473 supervised offenders.
·
Today the prison population is 5781 and the number of offenders on supervision
is 9446.
The
Forecast Advisory Committee is made up of key advisors from the legislature,
Governor's office, Boise State University and includes various representatives
from the criminal justice system. The forecast relies on the committee members
to establish future rates at which offenders will be sentenced. Department of
Corrections Review and Analysis professionals then factor in historical data on
offenders entering and leaving the system and use state population trends to
create the forecast model.
A
summary chart of growth history and projected growth is attached. To see a
complete copy of the Flow Model Offender Forecast for FY2003-FY2006 go to www.corrections.state.id.us
and look for the Offender Forecast FY2003-FY2006 hotlink.
Back to Top
Corrections maintains a balanced system despite budget cuts News Release - September 23, 2002 Boise - The 3.5% holdback ordered by the Governor equates to a $3.93 million cut for the Idaho Department of Correction. This cut is a deep one considering the department's fixed costs. The plan developed by the department calls for a reduction of 83 positions, 37 of which are vacant; and a $584,600 cut in operating expenses. The department made significant cuts to operating expenses in FY2002 to address prior budget holdbacks. Director Tom Beauclair explained that the department took a careful approach in developing the plan, involving staff input and ideas in the process. He stressed the importance of maintaining a balanced system. "The growth in the offender population doesn't stop. We've made cuts in the system that allow us to operate within our mission at this point in time." He expressed concern that if the system continues grow at its rapid rate, and the department isn't able to supplement its budget to address the growth, effectively carrying out the department's mission will be difficult. Staff affected by the cuts were notified last week and will be given several weeks until their positions must be vacated. Department officials met personally with each employee whose job was cut. "We are very concerned about the morale of our employees and the impact the layoffs will have on our staff. We will do everything possible to help individuals displaced by the layoffs find other jobs," Beauclair said. In addition to the 37 vacant positions that were cut, the department has 40 vacant positions due to hiring freezes and attrition. The department will try to fill those vacancies with employees affected by the layoff. The Division of Human Resources and the Department of Labor are also offering their services to assist laid off workers seek alternative employment. Beauclair held a conference call with all staff early Monday morning to discuss the impact of the holdback on the department. Administrators and Deputy Administrators are also helping staff understand the impact of the cuts by traveling to work sites to meet with staff and answer questions. Inmates received a letter to notify them of how the cuts would impact them. The department has made modifications to menus, but meals will still meet caloric requirements. Cuts to programming will also take place. "These cuts will impact the transition of inmates out the door and the tools they need to be successful," says Beauclair. However, the department plans to phase out program services slowly and find alternative programs for the inmates to attend. "It is important that everyone understands that we had difficult decisions to make and that we cut those areas that would have the least impact on our mission to protect the public and help offenders successfully transition back to the community," Beauclair said. Corrections works to save money News Release-August 30, 2002 -- The Idaho Department of Correction is responding quickly to news that state revenues aren't matching projections. The Department is planning for a 3 and a half percent holdback for FY 2003 and has already met with other agencies to explore the possibility of sharing resources. The holdback ordered by the Governor today will mean a $3.93 million cut for the IDOC. Director Tom Beauclair says all spending will be scrutinized, and that the agency has been planning for this possibility. "We've been planning for up to a five percent holdback since last year. We're considering all options and already have issued a letter to our professionals in the field asking for their input on how to make this work even as our offender population continues to grow." Beauclair held a teleconference statewide late this afternoon with IDOC employees, to ask for their input on the difficult decisions facing the department. "We'll do everything possible to maintain current staff and services. But we are looking at processes that can be streamlined, and any cuts we can make in spending without jeopardizing our main mission-to protect the public," Beauclair said. The incarcerated population in Idaho has grown 51% in the past six years. The average yearly growth rate is 9.6%. "We're all in this together," said Beauclair, "we're working with the Department of Fiscal Management and the Governor's Office very closely to try to make this as easy as possible on staff." Growing population forces change in direction Cottonwood The Department of Correction will consider sites other than Kootenai County for building a new facility to house a growing offender population. At a Thursday Board meeting, IDOC Director Tom Beauclair recommended the department stop efforts to place a Community Work Center in Kootenai County at the present time. He acknowledged a vocal opposition and public sentiment both for and against the proposed transitional facility. However, Beauclair said the real reason for asking for the change in direction was the pressing need to deal more immediately with the population growth in corrections. "We're looking at existing buildings and think there's some potential to build or buy some place cheaper," said Beauclair. The Board signed a resolution, allowing the department to broaden its efforts to develop a new facility. Janet Jenkins, a board member from northern Idaho, agreed the department needed to redirect its focus to avoid the possibility of losing federal funding for the project. But Jenkins stressed a critical need remains, "I want to make it clear an IDOC facility is desperately needed in north Idaho. We have a responsibility to offenders from northern Idaho." The Department of Correction has $3.2 million in federal funds to build a facility for lower-custody offenders. The state has committed the required matching allocation of $275,000. Legislative approval is still needed to redirect the funds from a north Idaho. The Community Meeting the department was arranging for September is cancelled because of this new direction. August 20, 2002 Boise --- Idaho's prisons are at 100% capacity. The Idaho Department of Correction has been making plans to handle the increasing inmate population. The department is planning to place additional beds at the St. Anthony Work Camp. The department requested permission to increase capacity at St. Anthony Work Camp. The St. Anthony City Council authorized the expansion from 110 inmates to 200. The IDOC hopes to convert an annex at the work camp into additional housing. In the meantime, the department has placed tents within the fencing at the work camp to handle some of the increasing demand. Operations Administrator Joe Klauser says, "It's a temporary alternative to handle our increasing population. We think it's important to note the inmates we're transferring here will already have jobs. They'll be working in food processing plants nearby. We've been working very closely with the community to make this work." Those tents are in place at St. Anthony. Today the first transport of 20 offenders arrived to start filling those tents. By September a total of up to 80 inmates will be housed in tents at the work camp as a temporary measure to alleviate population problems. The tents are a low-cost, fast track alternative. The tents, cots and heaters are on loan from the National Guard. "The goal here is to accommodate this expansion without there being any compromise to the good reputation and good service the St. Anthony Work Camp has provided to the citizens of St. Anthony," according to Joe Klauser, Operations Administrator. All offenders at the work camp are screened. Those approved to live and work out of the tents will have the same screening. Only minimum and community-custody level offenders will be transferred to St. Anthony. Facts about the cost Expanding the capacity at St. Anthony Work Camp is a lower cost alternative than sending offenders out of state. Implementing this temporary solution will save $760.80/month per inmate over out of state costs. For all 80 offenders that's a monthly savings of $60,800. Out of State $48.36 per day per inmate SAWC tents $23.00 per day per inmate Historical perspective It's not the first time the IDOC has used tents. The Department used tents at the St. Anthony Work Camp in 1990 to house inmates. About 50 inmates were housed in tents at that time. Facts about population growth The incarcerated population in Idaho has grown 51% in the past six years. The average yearly growth rate is 9.6%. Today, 5,786 inmates are under the jurisdiction of the Idaho Department of Correction. In addition to being at capacity in all facilities the state is housing 271 inmates in county jails throughout the state. Continued- facts about SAWC Facts about St. Anthony Work Camp This work camp, located in the small, eastern Idaho town of St. Anthony, is designed for low-risk, minimum- and community-custody male inmates. The program focus is to provide a work therapy program offering full-time, constructive, paid employment to inmates through contracted work and public service projects with government agencies, non-profit organizations and private employers. The program helps inmates develop good work habits, a positive work ethic and marketable work skills while providing a financial resource to meet immediate and future needs. SAWC also functions as a pre-release center, offering substance abuse treatment, academic and vocational education and life skills. Boise----The Idaho Department of Correction has completed more steps in its reorganization. Two Deputy Administrators have joined the management team. These are key players who will help move the department forward with its mission and vision. The new deputy administrators include one promoted from within the department, and one from out of state. Combined they bring nearly 50 years of corrections experience to the table. Both are part of IDOC's Operation Division. That division oversees prisons and community corrections. Michael Rothwell has joined the Idaho Department of Correction as Deputy Administrator for Programming. Rothwell will oversee education and programming activities throughout the Idaho Department of Correction. "These are exciting times for the IDOC, the changes will serve to provide quality treatment for offenders that enhances public safety," Rothwell said. Rothwell brings 26 years of experience in community corrections and prisons. Most recently he was Regional Manager for the North Carolina Department of Correction, Division of Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency Program. Rothwell's extensive background includes working as a probation/parole officer, counselor, superintendent of a substance abuse facility. He also worked in the private sector as an assistant warden for treatment at a Wackenhut Corrections Corporation facility. Rothwell has an MS in Criminal Justice and served as an adjunct faculty member for Mount Olive College. Another key player has also been chosen. Pam Sonnen was recently named as Deputy Administrator of Operations. Sonnen served as acting warden at Idaho State Correctional Institution (ISCI) before this promotion. She has also been a deputy warden at Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI). Sonnen started her career with the department 19 years ago. Her first job was as a correctional officer in Orofino, Idaho. She quickly moved through the ranks becoming a sergeant, lieutenant, deputy warden and warden. Sonnen says she's ready to go forward with new ideas. "I'm ready to help lead the transition into a more cohesive team between community corrections and prisons. My goal is to help develop the professional skills of staff and increase the success of inmates." Sonnen will join Rudy Evenson, also a Deputy Administrator of Operations. Previously, Evenson was Deputy Administrator for Community Corrections, but as part of the reorganization effort these divisions will no longer be separated. Operation Administrator Joe Klauser states, "This is part of our effort to make the system seamless between prisons, community corrections and community resources. The whole goal is to blur those lines so that when offenders have served their time and are released we have all our professionals working together to help ease them into communities more successfully." The promotions and hires are not new positions, but rather the result of realignment of staffing created by the reorganization. Director Tom Beauclair and the management team launched the reorganization last fall to streamline operations and make the IDOC more efficient. Last year, reorganization efforts by the IDOC saved more than $660,000. Those savings went back to the state to help alleviate the budget crisis. Both deputy administrators are available for interviews if you would like to meet them and hear their goals for the department. Photos can be made available.
Board of Correction Chair sets meeting focus for August BOISE - The Department of Correction continues to receive intense interest in its proposal to build a work center in northern Idaho, despite the department's announcement that the plan is currently on hold. Today (July 23), Board of Correction Chairman Ralph Townsend said the work center will not be the focus when the board visits Cottonwood and Orofino next month. "Our August meeting will be in central Idaho and will focus on central Idaho issues and state-wide budget concerns. There will be no extensive discussion of the community work center, that will be deferred until September." The board plans to meet in Coeur d'Alene in September. Townsend calls that a more appropriate place to discuss northern Idaho issues. Chairman Townsend says the board is aware of the Post Falls community's concern, "We are listening. The board is very much aware of the current comments in the press and of the comments made to staff." The Coeur d'Alene Board Meeting will be held the week of September 23rd. The agenda for board meetings are usually finalized the week before the meeting. Townsend encourages citizens to submit comments to the board in writing. The address is: Community Work Centers house offenders in the final months of their sentences. Idaho's four CWC's help offenders find jobs and receive programming to ease the transition back to society upon their release. An independent Economic Impact Study found a CWC would have a million dollar benefit in the community in which it is sited.
Boise - Not enough inmates are working at the Idaho Correctional Center (ICC) to satisfy the current contract between the state and private contractor. As a result, the Idaho Department of Correction will withhold some payments from the corporation that operates Idaho's only privately run prison. The enforcement of the contract will cost the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) an estimated $90,000 a month. ICC is located south of Boise. Currently, more than 1,250 inmates are housed at the prison. Since the contract calls for 20% of inmates to be employed in PIE (Prison Industry Enhancement) jobs, approximately 250 should be working. As of today, ICC reported 55 inmates were employed with efforts continuing to add more employers and more jobs. IDOC Director Tom Beauclair says work opportunities and programming are important aspects of the department's vision, and that's why it's important to enforce this contract. "We don't just want to warehouse inmates. Since 95% of them are coming back to our communities it's important we provide them with jobs to create good work habits and programming to change their criminal thinking." Jeff Conway, ICC warden, notified the department that the prison wasn't going to be able to meet the 20% measure. "We acknowledge our commitments and are working very diligently to get there. We're very proud of the services we are providing the state and will continue to do our best to maintain that, " Conway said. ICC currently has 25 inmates employed by Midstates. Bob Barker's sewing operation employs 30 inmates at the facility. Community Corrections Professionals honored BOISE - When you think of the Idaho Department of Correction you probably think of prisons and razor wire fences. But the majority of the offenders managed by the IDOC are actually living in communities around the state. Community Corrections professionals are actively supervising more than 8,500 parolees and probationers in Idaho. These probation and parole officers help track offenders and hold them accountable as they make their way back into society. Community corrections professionals are also teachers, holding classes to provide offenders with training to change. Probation and parole officers work each day in the community to safely manage offenders. They spend more time in the community than the office. That time is spent with offenders, their employers, their families and treatment providers. To honor the service of these professionals, Governor
Dirk Kempthorne has declared this week (July 14-20) as Community Corrections
Officers Week. In his proclamation the Governor states, "The citizens of
the State of Idaho are protected and served by the efforts of the probation and
parole officers who work with the criminal offenders…" The proclamation
goes on to encourage all citizens to honor the officers.
The Idaho Department of Correction has decided to delay it's Community Meeting in Post Falls. The meeting was scheduled for July 23rd and has not been rescheduled. Director Tom Beauclair says the department will wait until after the Correction Board meets in August before making a final decision on the north Idaho Community Work Center. "We said we wanted to listen to the community. We are listening and what we're hearing is a lot of fear. So we're going to slow down, step back and take a deep breath." The IDOC Director says getting the board's input is critical before making any final decisions about the work center. A recently completed economic impact study found that the work center will bring a million dollar economic boost yearly to the community where the facility is placed. The same study determined it will have spin-off economic benefits for the community. Work centers also provide important transitional opportunities for offenders as they serve the final months of their sentences. Location secured for community meeting in Post Falls BOISE - The Idaho Department of Correction has firmed up a meeting place for a Tuesday, July 23 Community Meeting in Post Falls. The gathering will be held at the National Guard Armory on 5555 E. Seltice Way, in Classroom #1. The meeting will have informational stations and the public is invited to come ask questions between 4 and 7pm. The meeting will focus on the facts about Community Work Centers (CWC), including information about current work centers and how they help residents prepare for their impending release. Director Tom Beauclair says the meeting is about sharing information, "This is important information. It's critical for northern Idaho folks to understand they already have offenders living in their communities. Work centers are designed to ease their transition back to the community." Currently more than 1,530 parolees and probationers live in the ten northern Idaho counties. In February, a survey revealed out of the 279 people in work centers, 85 were from northern Idaho counties. A survey done at the same time, revealed that a total of 758 of the inmates in the Idaho prison system in February were from the ten northern Idaho counties. The IDOC uses the county where an offender is sentenced as that person's 'home' county. Here's the information on the Community Meeting: Time: 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, July 23 Community
meeting set in Post Falls Also today, Department of Correction Director Tom Beauclair had praise for Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin, "I'm disappointed he cannot support the work center, however I think Mayor Larkin displayed bold leadership in being open and actually traveling to the Treasure Valley to see how work centers actually operate. At this point, we intend to continue with our meeting and we will assess things as we go." The community meeting is an important part of the department's effort to help citizens learn more about the work center and how it allows offenders to work while they're becoming reunited with their family in the community. Director Beauclair says, "We don't believe the citizens have the facts. During this meeting we'll have a variety of experts so the citizens can ask questions directly from the people who work with these offenders each day." The department is also working to bring a variety of non-department people to that meeting; including employers, offenders and parolees who didn't have work centers to help them re-enter society. Nearly 660,000 inmates are released nationwide each year. In Idaho, we use Community Work Centers to help ease the transition back to communities.
NAMPA - Nampa's Mayor, Police Chief and the Canyon County Sheriff all showed up at the Nampa Community Work Center to deliver an important message to a delegation of leaders from Post Falls. They told the leaders the Idaho Department of Correction facility is a good neighbor, and the community benefits from having the center in Nampa. Currently, there are no transitional facilities in Northern Idaho for inmates who are nearing the end of their sentences and possible parole, so the Department of Correction is seeking an appropriate site for a center in Post Falls. Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said he came to Nampa to get educated on work centers. "How can you make an informed decision if you aren't educated," he asked. The Post Falls Mayor, a council member, city planner and a Chamber of Commerce representative toured the Nampa facility and asked questions about what the center would mean for their city. An Economic Impact Study released last week revealed the center will have a $1.3 million economic benefit each year in the community where it's built. Nampa Police Chief Alan Creech told the Northern Idaho delegation there was an outcry when the Nampa Work Center went in 17 years ago, but those concerns are gone. "It's a good neighbor. The community benefits from the center being here, " Creech told the leaders. Sheriff George Nourse agreed the center has caused no problems for Canyon County and said it's an important service. "These people that are in here are going to go back into society. I like this proactive approach of getting them ready. It's the right thing to do." Nampa Mayor Tom Dale talked about inmates helping clean-up the town this past weekend and said they help the community in other ways. Department of Correction professionals also answered questions about programming, security and the benefits of a CWC. (The Post Falls Representatives were: Clay Larkin, Collin Coles, Randy Wells, & Ron Jacobson.) Correctional Officers Week begins with major announcement It's a shift in climate that would make any private corporation envious. The Department of Correction recently received a report showing attitudes and the climate within the department has changed radically in the past year. "You can change a culture and change it in a short time if you have a message that rings true and appeals to a higher sense of purpose." Consultant Paul Knudstrup says the Idaho Department of Correction has a vision and mission employees believe in and live each day. "People see the vision, mission and values statement as reflecting a positive force for change. They are saying this is the right stuff. This is why we joined the corrections industry." Knudstrup is congratulating the Department of Correction management and staff for what he calls a major organizational climate change. Knudstrup teaches supervisor courses and is president of Midwest Consulting Group, Inc. He teaches quarterly supervision courses for the department through Boise State University's Center for Management Development. His assessment tools measure front line managers' perceptions and attitudes in four areas: team success, performance climate, change readiness and communication effectiveness. When he started training IDOC managers in 1999, Knudstrup says the atmosphere with the department was negative and angry. That has changed. "Over time I have become increasingly impressed with the professionalism and dedication of IDOC staff. These individuals care deeply about what they do and are committed to doing it well." Knudstrup's report is being released publicly as the Department marks Correctional Officers Week. Director Tom Beauclair says it gives employees praise that they deserve, "We want to thank employees for their hard work and dedication. They keep our communities safe each day and it's time they receive some recognition for their hard work, and professional dedication." During a news conference at the Idaho State Correctional Institution south of Boise this morning, Beauclair also honored 22 staff who helped launch a Cognitive Community at ISCI with a Unit Team Citation. Their efforts made the important program possible despite budget cuts that threatened to halt the treatment option for offenders. Knudstrup measures four areas for his assessment. Here are some of the facts from the Knudstrup's Organizational Climate Report:
It asks questions such as: Does the team understand its goal? Are the right people on the team? Is input asked for on important decisions? In June of 2001 only 7 responses were at the highest level of agreement. By April of 2002, 17 of the responders agreed that the team atmosphere at IDOC was positive.
This tool measures how the overall strategy is communicated, if employees understand the mission and goals of the organization, and whether things are fixed when they don't work. In July 2001, just 1 person surveyed in leadership class gave this category a high ranking. By April of this year, 14 ranked this as absolutely true.
It asks about communication, information flow, and if the organization is flexible. Again, the positive rankings jumped from 1 person saying the Department was ready for change, to 12 people in the most recent class agreeing with this series of statements.
This survey asks participants to rate the overall effectiveness of the communication in both their particular unit and the department as a whole. Again, perceptions have clearly shifted upward.
Jon Sowers, Human Resources Deputy Administrator has worked at the department since July of last year. He says positive change is happening. "I entered the scene with a multitude of negative human relations issues. Slowly our new leadership decisively made people our priority." Sowers says turnover is the lowest it has been in 5 years. Part of that is the economy, but feedback from employees indicates that they want to work for IDOC Consultant Paul Knudstrup says a climate change this dramatic is rarely seen in any agency. "What you have here is an organization ready to change, a group of leaders with a powerful message, and employees who decided they're going to do something different. You're shifting the paradigm. I have never seen this degree of shift in perceptions in this short of a time." Knudstrup teaches quarterly supervision courses for the department through a partnership with Boise State University. He has worked with IDOC training supervisors since 1999. During that time, 336 Department of Correction employees have received the training.
ALSO AVAILABLE: New study reveals economic benefits COEUR D'ALENE – A newly completed study reveals that building a Community Work Center has huge economic benefits for the city where it’s located. The community where the work center is located would receive a two million dollar economic boost the year the facility is built. Each year of operation, the Department of Correction facility would add one million dollars to the local economy. Those findings come from an economic impact study just completed by JP Stravens Planning Associates. The planners studied the economic impact of siting a 100 bed Community Work Center in Kootenai County. Their study revealed 25 to 50 construction workers would receive jobs during the building phase. Those jobs alone would give the community nearly a half-million dollar shot in the arm. Wages and benefits for the 17 to 20 permanent facility personnel would add $729,600 to the county economy each year. Operating expenses would be $323,689, but the impact would be even greater because of the chain reaction of the new jobs and additional needs of a work center creating more jobs. Community Work Centers offer a homelike environment to help offenders learn to adjust after serving the bulk of their sentence. Offenders are usually transferred into a community custody facility like a work center in the 6 to 10 months before their release back into society. They learn work habits, while becoming reunited with family. The work helps them earn money to pay some of the costs of their incarceration, pay restitution and also save money so they can establish a place to live when they are released. The study found employing those 90 people in the Kootenai County labor force would have no impact on the unemployment rate in the county. In fact, the study points out that building and staffing the work center will create jobs. "Clearly, the new jobs will beget more jobs, as payroll from the initial jobs is spent and re-spent. And as business activity expands, the increased purchases from suppliers will generate still more jobs," JP Stravens Planning Associates, Inc. An additional benefit of the work center is the volunteer services the workers provide to the community. Residents at the Idaho Falls Community Work Center donated a total of 1498 hours of community service to various agencies within the community during the Fiscal Year 2000. The proposed Kootenai County Facility will have a total of 22,00 square feet of floor space and be placed on a 3-5 acre site. It will house 100 residents, both male and female.
BOISE - The Board of Correction honored several Idaho Department of Correction employees today for their outstanding service in carrying out the mission of the department, to protect the public. Board Chairman Ralph Townsend presented a plaque to Jason Harmon, Senior Probation Officer in District Four. Officer Harmon and his K-9 "Jake" have participated in numerous criminal investigations that have resulted in the seizure of drugs, weapons and arrests. In the past five months, Officer Harmon and his certified drug dog helped seize 136 grams of methamphetamine, 204 grams of marijuana, 5 grams of heroin, 7 handguns and dozens of items of drug paraphernalia. In December, Officer Harmon was officially assigned to work with the Boise Area Narcotics and Drug Interdiction Task Force (BANDIT). His letter of recognition states, "More than ever, we recognize the importance of partnering with other agencies to accomplish our common goal of public safety." Also honored today, were members of the Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) from the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Television coverage of the team’s recent cell extraction demonstration was shown, and they were presented with a letter and certificate for their work as CERT members. Team Leader, Lt. Al Ramirez says the team trains eight hours each month to keep in top form. Director Tom Beauclair noted members receive no extra pay for the duty, and are called in to respond professionally in the toughest of conditions. CERT is made up of 16 members. Eight of the team members were on hand at the Board of Correction meeting today for a review of the video and the awarding of a Certificate of Recognition for their professionalism and hard work. IDOC inmate fire crews called to action BOISE - Two-inmate fire crews from Idaho on are their way to New Mexico tonight. Because of fire conditions near Albuquerque, the Forest Service requested the crews last night. By 6am this morning, the 36 inmates and four Department of Correction professionals were on a bus to New Mexico. Department of Correction specialists started training the two 18-men crews in January. They went on the Forest Service available list on April 1st. The Department of Correction sends one crew boss and one security officer for each crew made up of 18 inmates. St. Anthony Operations Lieutenant Jim Woolf says, "April is a little early for fire season, but the last two years we’ve also had an April call-up. It just depends on the dryness of the year." Some of the money the inmate fire crews earn while fighting fires helps to pay for the cost of their incarceration. In the past, fire crews from St. Anthony have helped fight fires as far away as Georgia. The St. Anthony Work Camp is located in the Fremont County town of St. Anthony. The institution provides paid employment to inmates through public service projects and with governmental agencies. The program helps inmates develop good work habits, a positive work ethic and job skills so they can successfully re-enter society after their time is served. IDOC Inmate Fire Crews:
Burgers
for Bikes repaired and ready for giveaway Members of the community donate the bikes for disadvantaged kids in the Treasure Valley. Applebee’s gives a free burger coupon for each bike turned in. This is the tenth year of the ‘Burgers for Bikes’ giveaway and the third year inmates at Correctional Industries have helped to rebuild the bikes. Organizers estimate that nearly 3,000 bikes have been given away during the ten years that the program has been in existence. Today, inmate crews from Correctional Industries will be delivering more bikes to Applebee’s in preparation for the big bike giveaway. This year, the bikes will be distributed in May. The children who will receive those bikes have already been identified. Bike Delivery For additional information specific to the Burgers
for Bikes program call: For additional information specific to Correctional
Industries call: Two IDOC drug dogs receive certification BOISE - Probation and Parole Officers have some new tools to help them in their mission to protect the community. Two Idaho Department of Correction drug dogs received certification during a K-9 seminar in Boise. To receive certification, the dogs must successfully sniff out four different drugs and alert their handler to the contraband. These new certifications help the correction department in its efforts to protect communities statewide as a District 1 Probation and Parole Officer became the first handler to certify an IDOC drug dog for the Coeur d’Alene region. Sandy Beamer and her yellow Labrador, Gretchen, received the honor. IDOC dog trainer, Robert Perez, and the Coeur d’Alene K-9 team did 60 hours of formal training to prepare for the certification. The Boise Probation and Parole Office (District 4) now has three certified drug dogs. Probation and Parole Officer Andy Martin, and his black Labrador, Ivan, received the certification during the seminar. Robert Perez trained Ivan for nearly two years before matching Martin with his dog. The IDOC now has nine certified drug dogs statewide and Perez says he plans to take the program into districts in Eastern Idaho next. In addition to handling nearly 5,700 inmates in prison, the Department of Correction manages 8,500 probationers and parolees across Idaho. The drug dogs will assist Probation and Parole Officers in locating drugs and drug paraphernalia when they conduct regular visits and searches of offenders’ homes. One Probation and Parole Officer participated in the competition portion of the K-9 seminar. Department dog trainer Robert Perez and his yellow Labrador, Rowdy, placed 10th in the narcotic detection trial. Perez, a Probation and Parole Officer in Boise, says that’s a good showing when you consider dogs from across the West participated in the Boise competition. Agencies from California, Nevada, California, Oregon and Washington all participated in the K-9 competition. All Idaho female inmates back in state POCATELLO - All female inmates housed out of state are back in Idaho today (Wednesday, April 10). The final group of females arrived at the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center late last evening. A bus brought them from the McKinley County Adult Detention Center in Gallup, N.M. The transfer of 120 females from New Mexico completes a change in the way Idaho manages its female offenders. Now that the women inmates are back, professionals at PWCC will create a ‘success plan’ for each individual. Nearly 90 percent of the females in the Idaho system have substance abuse problems. The Governor’s Initiative allows PWCC to create intensive in-house substance abuse treatment for those females with substance abuse issues. Female inmates were transferred out of Idaho in January 2001 because of overcrowding. Bringing them back home will save the IDOC about half a million dollars each year. The Idaho Department of Correction created new beds in the system by triple bunking in several facilities. The department also turned a male work center south of Boise into a correctional center for women. That reorganization moved the successful Rider program for females from PWCC to Boise. The South Boise Women’s Correctional Center is unique because it is the only institution in the state that focuses exclusively on a female Rider program. SBWCC currently houses 88 women. The IDOC offers Riders special programming to
increase their chances of re-entering society rather than the alternative of
going to prison for a longer sentence. The consolidation improves both staff
utilization and the quality of programming provided to females in the
court-retained jurisdiction Rider program. Transfer of inmates from New Mexico A bed shortage prompted the IDOC to begin housing female offenders out of state. In January 2001, the department began transferring females to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center in Gallup, N.M. Idaho had 120 Idaho offenders in the New Mexico facility when the transfers began in March. The female offenders were the only Idaho inmates housed out of state on a contract basis. That contract was with Management and Training Corporation. Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center
South Boise Women’s Correctional Center
What are Riders? Riders are offenders who have been convicted of felonies and sentenced to prison but whose judges are retaining jurisdiction for up to 180 days. The IDOC offers these offenders specially developed programming and recommends to the court if they’re suitable for community supervision after that period. Previously women in the Rider program were housed at PWCC and the East Boise Community Work Center.
Work Center inmates help with fundraiser NAMPA - When you have tons of books and only a few hours to move them who do you call? The Friends of Boise Public Library dial the Nampa Community Work Center for help. Offenders housed at the Department of Correction Community Work Center in Nampa will carry books from the Boise Public Library’s basement to the auditorium for the annual fundraising book sale. Bonnie Longstreth, Friends of Boise Public Library, says, "We move about a thousand cartons of books in one night. We couldn’t do the sale without them." The offenders provide help before and after sale hours. This is the third year offenders have helped carry the boxes of books. In the past, offenders from the South Boise Community Work Center did the heavy lifting. That facility has now been converted to a center for females, so the non-profit asked the Nampa Work Center to help. Lt. George Baird, Nampa Community Work Center, says work center offenders help with many community projects. "We’ve assisted in Paint the Town, Holiday Lights, Adopt-A-Highway cleanup, Christmas caroling, MSTI donations and Christmas baskets for need Nampa families. I strongly believe in community projects, so I put out a challenge to staff to find ways to help Nampa last year. Everybody did, now we’re helping Boise too." If you want to buy a book and support The Friends of Boise Public Library Annual Book Sale here are the details:
If you don’t purchase the books, the offenders will do some heavy lifting to move those boxes back to the basement after the Sunday half-price sale ends. IDOC Fact Sheet Nampa Community Work Center Community Work Centers Idaho has three work centers for
males, located in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls and Nampa. There is one work center
for women. It is located in Boise. Female inmates arrive from New Mexico BOISE - Female inmates transferred out of Idaho last year have returned to the state. The first group of 40 inmates arrived at the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center late Monday evening. A bus carried the women from a jail in Gallup, New Mexico. 127 female inmates were bussed out of state in January 2001 because of overcrowding. The Idaho Department of Correction created new beds in the system by turning a male work center South of Boise into a facility for females. Triple bunks were added to rooms in several facilities to create the additional space and save money. Brian Underwood, Warden at the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center, explains that the facility has made housing changes, which will allow the establishment of a team program concept. "Upon their arrival, each woman will be reassessed. A success plan will be developed for the balance of their stay in prison and through parole," Underwood said. These individual plans allow both the inmate and the facility’s correctional professionals to better manage the inmate’s movement through the system. The 87 women still housed in New Mexico will be brought back over the next few weeks. Bringing the inmates back to Idaho will save the IDOC about half a million dollars each year. All transfers of female inmates will be completed by mid-April. Female offenders transferred to Boise To make room for the higher custody inmates from New Mexico, another group of female offenders in the Rider (retained jurisdiction) program were transferred to the South Boise Women’s Correctional Center this week. 32 offenders arrived at the center five miles South of Boise Monday evening. SBWCC is unique. It is the only
institution in the state that focuses exclusively on a female Rider program.
Riders are offenders who have been convicted of felonies and sentenced to
prison, but whose judges are retaining jurisdiction for up to 180 days. The IDOC
offers these offenders special programming. SBWCC has space for 123 inmates.
Transfers will be complete in the next few weeks. Transfer of inmates from New Mexico A bed shortage prompted the IDOC to begin housing female offenders out of state. In January 2001, the department began transferring females to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center in Gallup, N.M. Idaho had 127 Idaho offenders in the New Mexico facility until the transfers began this week. The female offenders are the only Idaho inmates housed out of state on a contract basis. That contract is with Management and Training Corporation. The remaining female inmates currently out of state will all be returned to Idaho by mid-April. Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center
South Boise Women’s Correctional Center
What are Riders? Riders are offenders who have been convicted of felonies and sentenced to prison but whose judges are retaining jurisdiction for up to 180 days. The IDOC offers these offenders specially developed programming and advises the court if they’re suitable for community supervision after that 180 days. Previously women in the Rider program have been housed at PWCC and the East Boise Community Work Center. Correction Director Beauclair welcomes conference to Idaho BOISE - Idaho Department of Correction Director Tom Beauclair welcomed about seventy delegates from around the West to Boise. Director Beauclair’s remarks opened the Western Correctional Industries Association (WCIA) meeting. Beauclair told delegates that Correctional Industries staff play an important role in preparing inmates to go back into society, "All staff are involved in assisting the offender to change." Correctional Industries is a privately run business within Corrections Departments in Idaho and other western states. CI helps inmates learn job skills. This conference gathers Correctional Industries experts from around the west for training on new trends in the industry like marketing products on the Internet. Lynn McAuley, new manager of Idaho’s Correctional Industries, helped bring the conference to Boise. She says it’s an honor to have the gathering of industry experts hold their annual meeting in the Treasure Valley. In addition to the welcome by Director Beauclair, attendees have a full slate of workshops. Tony Ellis, Director South Carolina Correctional Industries and president of the National Correctional Industries Association, talked about the importance of humor in the workplace. Ellis told delegates, "Humor brings people together." He also encouraged CI managers to use humor to more creative and persuasive, "The most persuasive you will ever be is when you inject humor." ---- Correctional Industries is a separate business within Corrections that provides work opportunity for inmates that best represent the real world. In Idaho inmates make metal and wood furniture, signs, license plates and print documents. Humor
in the work place The Western Correctional Industries Association (WCIA) meeting begins today (Thursday, March 21) and goes through Saturday, March 23rd. Lynn McAuley, new manager of Idaho’s Correctional Industries, helped bring the conference to Boise. She says it’s an honor to have the gathering of industry experts hold the meeting in the Treasure Valley. In addition to the humor, participants will focus on the serious business of Correctional Industries. Topics include:
The media is invited to attend the Friday workshops. (See attached list) Location: Vista Inn Best Western, 2645 Airport Way Time: Friday, March 22 8am-4: 30pm The Humor in the Workplace presentation is at 9:15am on Friday. The presenter will be Tony Ellis, Director South Carolina Correctional Industries and president of the National Correctional Industries Association. NCIA Executive Director, Gwyn Smith Ingley, is also attending and will speak at the conference. Idaho Department of Correction Director Thomas Beauclair will welcome the conference attendees to Boise. ---- Correctional Industries is a separate business within Corrections that provides work opportunity for inmates that best represent the real world. In Idaho inmates make metal and wood furniture, signs, license plates and print documents. Transfer of female offenders begins: Savings will be substantial BOISE - Idaho Department of Correction professionals today (March 19) started a transfer of female offenders. The moves involve nearly 250 females and will save the Department $462,346 each year. The transfers are two tiered: 118 offenders will be moved from the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center to a newly remodeled facility South of Boise. Today’s busload of 32 females is just the first of three inmate transfers from Pocatello to Boise. They arrived at 4pm. The newly remodeled South Boise Women’s Correctional Center offers programs and educational opportunities to help women offenders successfully move out of prison and back into the community with their families. Once beds at Pocatello are available the IDOC will bring 127 females back to Idaho. Those inmates are currently housed in New Mexico prison facilities. All transfers will be completed by mid-April. A New Start "Female offenders present some unique challenges. We’ve retrained our staff to better handle those special needs," says Cyd Heyrend, the correctional manager who will oversee SBWCC. The Women’s facility will offer classes focused on life skills. "When the women leave prison we want them to be able to successfully stay in the community," says SBWCC program coordinator Janet Guerin. Nearly half of all female offenders are from the Treasure Valley, this new facility allows them to be in their community near their families and children. The odds of successful re-entry into society increase with family support. The New Facility The newly remodeled South Boise Women’s Correctional Center is 5 miles south of Boise. The capacity is 123 beds. The IDOC remodeled the South Boise Community Work Center and converted it from a male housing unit to a facility for women. Rick Bishop, on site Lieutenant, says some of the retooling involved additions specific for the female population: more telephones, additional restroom facilities and the installation of a bathtub for medical purposes. Who will be housed at SBWCC Most of the female offenders transferring to SBWCC are in the Rider program (court-retained jurisdiction) and are serving up to 180 days. This program gives them a chance to turn their lives around and avoid a longer prison term. The Savings The Department of Correction will save $462,346 per year by transferring female inmates back to Idaho. Housing inmates out of state costs $1.7 million each year. It will cost $1.2 million annually to house them in Idaho. Fact Sheet South Boise Women’s Correctional Center
What are Riders? Riders are offenders who have been convicted of felonies and sentenced to prison but whose judges are retaining jurisdiction for up to 180 days. The IDOC offers these offenders specially developed programming and advises the court if they’re suitable for community supervision after that 180 days. Previously women in the Rider program have been housed at PWCC and the East Boise Community Work Center. Transfer of inmates from New Mexico A bed shortage prompted the IDOC to
begin housing female offenders out of state. In January 2001, The Department
began transferring females to the McKinley County Adult Detention Center in
Gallup, N.M. There are currently 127 Idaho offenders in the New Mexico facility.
They are the only Idaho offenders housed out of state on a contract basis. That
contract is with Management and Training Corporation. The female inmates
currently out of state will all be returned to Idaho by mid-April.
Males housed at SBCWC were transferred to Nampa, Twin Falls and Idaho Falls Work Centers. As part of their work program, some male offenders helped convert the Center. PROGRAM OUTLINE SBWCC These are: Cognitive Self Change Phase
One GED New contract will result in lower telephone rates for collect calls made by Idaho offenders BOISE – A new telephone service contract will result in lower telephone bills for those who accept collect calls from offenders incarcerated in Idaho Department of Correction facilities. Depending on the type of call made, the per-minute rate charged by MCI WorldCom Communications, Inc., will be less than half of the current rate. MCI WorldCom was one of four vendors who submitted bids last year to provide inmate telephone service to the state’s prison system and five community work centers. WorldCom was selected based on its written proposal and price structure for collect inmate telephone calls. The three-year contract was signed in mid-December 2001. The current contractor, AT&T, will continue to provide telephone service until WorldCom can replace phone system equipment. The new rates are scheduled to go into effect on a staggered basis between Tuesday (Feb. 26) and the end of March at the seven state-operated prisons and the state-owned, privately-managed Idaho Correctional Center south of Boise. All calls made by offenders in these facilities are collect calls. Here are the new rates (with the old rates in parentheses):
MCI has installed new telephones at four of the five work centers. Because they are pay phones, offenders have several payment options, including calling cards, collect calls and coins. Jones named new PIO for Idaho Department of Correction BOISE – Teresa Ann Jones, an executive producer at KTVB-Channel 7 in Boise, has been named public information officer for the Idaho Department of Correction, the agency announced Tuesday (Feb. 19). Jones’ appointment was made by Director Tom Beauclair. She starts her new job on March 4. She replaces Mark Carnopis, who will assume other duties within the Department. Beauclair said he choose Jones from a pool of 102 applicants because her vision for the job closely matches the Department’s goals. "She clearly articulated her plan to improve community relations and promote the professionalism of the Department," he said. Jones, who also operates a freelance writing business, has been an executive producer at KTVB since April 1997. She also worked as an executive producer at KOIN-TV in Portland from October 1995-April 1997. Between 1982-1995, she was a producer at KOIN, KMVT-TV in Twin Falls and KIMA-TV in Yakima, Wash. During her television career, Jones’ work was nominated for four Emmy Awards. She won in 1996 for the newscast "Inside the KOIN Siege." Jones, an Idaho native, earned an associate of arts degree from the College of Southern Idaho in 1980 and a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast communications from Oregon State University in 1982. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne to honor public safety program in Lewiston LEWISTON - Gov. Dirk Kempthorne on Friday (Feb. 15) afternoon will honor a partnership between the District 2 Probation and Parole Office and Lewiston Police Department designed to keep the community safe. The award ceremony will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the District 2 office, 908 Idaho Street in Lewiston. Gov. Kempthorne will recognize the efforts of "The Safe Community Offender Accountability Program," or SCOAP. In June 2001, District 2 Probation and Parole and the Lewiston Police Department began their public safety alliance. SCOAP was the result of months of planning between district probation officers and police officers. The goal is to protect and enhance public safety and promote better outcomes for offenders and their at-risk families. Officers volunteering for this program recognized that by sharing information, applying sanctions and providing more services, offenders’ success on probation or parole could be impacted. The highly visible teams of police and probation officers conduct home visits, bar checks, surveillance, enforce civil protection orders, check on domestic batterers and outstanding absconder warrants, and increase public awareness. Since its inception, the teams have conducted 327 home visits, issued 14 citations for infractions, and made 42 misdemeanor and seven felony arrests. Of the seven felony arrests, one was an offender and six were non-offenders. The result has been a heightened awareness in the community of police and probation presence and an increased accountability for offenders.
BOISE – A graduation ceremony to honor 44 offenders who earned a GED or high school diploma while incarcerated is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday (Jan. 25) at the Idaho State Correctional Institution south of Boise. The 44 graduates earned 41 GED and three high school diplomas. An additional 40 graduates from the Class of 2001 cannot attend the ceremony due to release from prison or transfer to other institutions. Gov. Dirk Kempthorne will be a guest speaker at the ceremony, which will take place in the gymnasium. The largest of Idaho’s adult correctional facilities, ISCI offers a range of classes including literacy, English as a learned language, GED preparation, secondary, and post secondary vocational training, as well as a library. The Robert Janss School operates statewide at six Idaho correctional institutions and two Community Corrections’ offices. The school at ISCI has nine certified teachers and serves approximately 500 students each month. Statewide, the IDOC has over 50 correction educators preparing inmates with academic and work skills prior to eventual release and parole into Idaho communities. Studies show that education does have a positive affect on reducing recidivism rates. In November 2001, the Idaho Chapter of the Correctional Education Association (CEA) was host to a regional conference of national and international correction educators. At that conference, Steve Steurer, CEA executive director, presented the results of a three-state, 3,000-plus inmate research study that showed that inmates who seek an education while incarcerated experience a 23 percent drop in recidivism versus inmates who do not participate in educational opportunities. Those results, which involved programs in Maryland, Minnesota, and Ohio, suggest that for every dollar spent on correctional education, two dollars are saved in future incarceration costs. During last year’s legislative session, Governor Kempthorne presented an initiative to increase funding for Idaho correctional education and treatment services. The goal is to reduce recidivism and hopefully eliminate the need to continually fund more prison construction. Two South Idaho Correctional Institution escapees captured Monday BOISE - Two South Idaho Correctional Institution offenders who escaped Sunday (Jan. 20) afternoon were recaptured Monday morning in Bannock County, the Idaho Department of Correction reported. Thomas Kevin Hooley, 37, and Clarence Garren, 19, were arrested without incident by Chubbuck Police Department officers. Both men are being held in the Bannock County Jail. Hooley and Garren escaped while mending fences at the Correctional Industries dairy and farming operation. The operation is located on the west side of Pleasant Valley Road, across from the south Boise prison complex. They were last seen at 1 p.m. Sunday. Based on footprints left in the snow, both men walked north towards Ten Mile Creek Road. They allegedly stole a vehicle about midnight. Hooley was serving a fixed five-year sentence (with an additional five years indeterminate) for a burglary conviction from Bonneville County. Garren was serving a fixed four-year sentence (with an additional five years indeterminate) for two counts of burglary, one count of aiding and abetting grand theft, and one count of presentation of a stolen lottery ticket from Bannock County. Both men face additional felony charges for the escape.
Revised: June 03, 2003 |
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