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2003 Press ReleasesDec 23, 2003 --
New Administrator of Operations Selected
New Administrator of Operations Selected December 22, 2003 Boise---Pam Sonnen has been named the new Administrator of Operations at the Department of Correction. In that position, Sonnen will oversee operations of all prisons and community corrections in Idaho. Sonnen, a 20-year employee with the department, was selected after an extensive nationwide search. In announcing the appointment, Director Tom Beauclair says he tapped Sonnen for the management team because of her strong commitments to professional integrity and staff success. Sonnen’s first job with the department was as a correctional officer at North Idaho Correctional Institution in Cottonwood. Most recently, she was Deputy Administrator of Operations. Sonnen has also served as warden at Idaho State Correctional Institution, deputy warden at Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI) and has experience as a sergeant and lieutenant. Sonnen says she is committed to continue developing a professional staff with
depth in leadership. “We need to provide training and an atmosphere that
allows for people to grow, not just in their current jobs, but in getting to
that next step.” Sonnen says she is committed to making staff the best
they can be at all levels. December 22, 2003 Twin Falls---An offender walked away from the Twin Falls Community Work Center early Sunday morning, December 21st. Correctional officers noticed James Novosel was not in his bunk when they performed a midnight security check. They did a complete check of the facility and a count of offenders and determined Novosel had escaped. Twin Falls County area law enforcement was notified immediately. The 43-year-old Novosel was serving a three-to-four year sentence for drug trafficking. A Blaine County judge sentenced Novosel in October. He was assigned to the CWC as an cook. There is a possibility Novosel will try to return to the Hailey area to retrieve
some possessions. He also has family and friends in the Burley/Rupert area. December 1, 2003 Boise---Two inmates sentenced to death have been moved from administrative segregation to close custody cells. Randy McKinney and Mark Lankford will remain at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Instead of single cells they will now share a cell. Idaho lawmakers amended rules for the housing of those sentenced to death. The revised law gives the Department of Correction more latitude to assign appropriate housing. The department is taking a cautious approach to moving any offenders from administrative segregation to close custody general population. Staff at Idaho Maximum Security Institution and Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center make a recommendation to the facility’s warden if they determine an offender’s behavior merits consideration for release from segregation. The warden reviews and forwards his recommendations to the Operations Administrative team. That team makes the final determination about moving inmates. The Director of the Department of Correction must sign off before any inmate under a death sentence is moved. Special restrictions still apply for those under a death sentence. They have no access to secure outside areas and must remain within the walls at IMSI. If a death warrant is issued, the offender will be placed back in a single cell in administrative segregation. Both offenders selected have spent nearly 20 years on death row. Randy McKinney was sentenced to death in March 1983 for a Bonneville County murder. Mark Lankford received a death sentence in November 1984 in two Idaho County murders. The Attorney General's Office says there are currently 21 inmates with a death
sentence in Idaho. 20 are males and one is female. Four of those 21had their
sentences vacated by courts but none of those orders are final. Fire at Correctional Industries contained November 25, 2003 Boise---A fire at the Idaho State Correctional Institution was contained early this afternoon. The fire broke out at 11:46am in a paint and lacquer room at the Correctional Industries shop. The Correctional Fire Response Team responded and almost had the fire contained, but it flared up again. Concerned about the lacquer and flammable materials, ISCI then called Boise City and Kuna Fire Departments and requested back up. Four trucks from Boise and one from Kuna responded. The crews were able to contain the fire around 1:35 PM. No one was injured. All offenders who were working in the furniture shop were at lunch at the time of the fire. The institution restricted offenders to their units for the afternoon, but plans to return to normal operations this evening. The fire started in a specially built cinder-block room used to put the finishing lacquer on furniture. It was contained within that single room. The fire scene is now sealed off and the Boise City Fire inspector is working to locate the ignition source. ISCI Warden Randy Blades thanks all the crews who responded, “The Correctional Fire Response Team took immediate action to clear the area and contain the problem. Boise City, Kuna Fire Departments also responded and worked together as a team to contain the fire.” Blades says the damage from the fire will be assessed later. Correctional Industries (CI) provides jobs for offenders. The ISCI shop produces furniture, license plates, signs and also does printing. Idaho State Correctional Institution (ISCI) is the department’s largest
institution. It houses 1,338 inmates and is the main location for medium custody
inmates. Department of Correction moves
to save taxpayer dollars Senator Darrington Honored by National Group November 7, 2003 Arkansas---The Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision honored Idaho State Senator Denton Darrington at the groups annual meeting this week. Senator Darrington received the Peyton Tuthill Award for his outstanding contribution in helping establish a new Interstate Compact nationwide. Senator Darrington serves on the National Interstate Compact and is also a member of Idaho’s Interstate Compact Council. The National Compact was created to more closely govern the transfer of adult offenders between states. Darrington helped create the compact and sponsored the legislation allowing Idaho to participate. The new compact will go into effect August 4, 2004 replacing the existing 65 year old compact. There was a push to tighten compact rules after the 1998 murder of Maryland resident, Peyton Tuthill. The young woman was murdered when an inmate on interstate compact out of Colorado was released from a Maryland prison without any notification. Colorado officials said they were not obligated to give notification because the offender wasn't a parolee. The new compact closes the loopholes and standardizes compact rules. The award received by the Senator Darrington is in Tuthill's memory and is for his exceptional leadership and service to the Interstate Compact. Darrington said he was surprised to receive the honor. He says the national agreement is important for the public. "The whole purpose of this compact is to increase safety when moving offenders from state to state. That's what it's all about," said Darrington. Idaho pays an annual assessment fee of $18,000 to be a part of the compact.
Darrington, a Republican from Declo, sponsored legislation allowing the Department
of Correction to collect a $50 application fee from offenders wanting the transfer
to offset the annual cost.
November 7, 2003 Boise---The Department of Correction has announced a permanent merit increase for some IDOC employees. The department will focus the increases on correctional officers and probation and parole officers in the lowest pay brackets. Most employees in the Department of Correction saw their take-home pay decrease last year as insurance costs went up and no wage increases were authorized for a second straight year. This concerned Corrections Director Tom Beauclair. “Wages for our Idaho correctional officers are 15% below wages paid in our neighboring states. We need to compensate our professionals.” Correctional officers who are at, or near, entry-level pay are the focus of the effort. Those who have a positive performance evaluation on file, are permanent employees and have not received a promotional pay increase in the last 18 months are eligible for consideration. Correctional officers identified as high quality performers will receive a 4% pay increase, Probation and Parole Officers selected will receive a 3% increase, support staff and other superior performers may be eligible for smaller increases. Director Beauclair said it is money well-spent, “Officers can go to a neighboring state and make $2 more an hour immediately. It is important to honor the professional performance our correctional officers and probation and parole officers provide each day to protect the public.” “We’ve seen 10% growth each year for the past ten years, we have
always been trying to catch up,” Beauclair stated. “With growth
fairly flat, we finally have an opportunity to reward our employees that have
worked to hard to accommodate all the changes the department has undertaken
to create a more efficient agency.” October 15, 2003 Boise --- The eagle has landed after “Operation Talon”, and the results are 59 felons captured. Operation Talon cross-matched outstanding arrest warrants with food stamp recipients in Southwest Idaho to find those who were breaking the law. The effort resulted in 59 apprehensions on outstanding warrants and nine people removed from illegally receiving food stamps. The Department of Correction secured federal funding to carry out Operation Talon earlier this year and worked with the Department of Health and Welfare as well as the Ada and Canyon County Sheriffs’ Offices. The agencies held a joint news conference today in Boise. Department of Correction Director Tom Beauclair praised all the partners in the effort. “We are here to celebrate the success that removed felons from the streets and from the public benefit rolls. It wouldn’t have been possible without all these agencies working together,” said Beauclair. As a partner in the operation, The Department of Health and Welfare developed a software program to run the lists submitted by law enforcement agencies. The results provided information to help apprehend people evading the law. In the Food Stamp program, it is illegal for fleeing felons to apply and receive food stamp benefits. Mond Warren is Bureau Chief for the Health and Welfare’s Fraud and Abuse Investigations. Warren says, “Out of the name matches, we removed nine people who were illegally receiving benefits, which will save our government about $13,000 annually.” Health and Welfare will also go after the people who no longer were receiving food stamps, but illegally collected benefits in the past. In those 38 cases, $74,000 was distributed. Health and Welfare investigators will attempt to recover this money. Operation Talon all started when Idaho Department of Correction employee Ron Mesler saw the potential in applying for the federal program. Mesler, who heads the Department of Correction Fugitive Recovery unit, applied to the USDA Office of the Inspector General. After receiving the funding, the IDOC pulled together the team of partners. Ada County and Canyon County Sheriffs Officers, along with Canyon County’s City-County Narcotics/ROP Unit, took the lead in making arrests in their jurisdictions, and were assisted by the Department of Correction’s Probation and Parole Officers. The IDOC Fugitive Recovery Unit also coordinated with other law enforcement personnel statewide to make arrests as far away as Salmon and Twin Falls. The five-month sweep ended in September with 59 apprehensions. Some of the crimes of those arrested in Operation Talon include kidnapping, aggravated assault, child desertion and various drug charges. Interesting facts ? Operation Talon was focused in Southwest Idaho but arrests were made statewide.
The Department of Correction fugitive recovery unit and probation and parole
officers also worked with agencies as far away as Salmon and Twin Falls to
make arrests. September 12, 2003 Boise -- The Idaho Department of Correction has appointed leaders to three new positions. Gary Barrier Named as Deputy Administrator of Programs Barrier will oversee efforts to realign all programming and education in the department to focus on core programming. The department is committed to programs proven through research to reduce offender risk. Ken Bennett Chosen to be SICI Warden Bennett started his career nearly 15 years ago at Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino and consistently moved up through the ranks at ICIO. He was named as deputy warden at SICI earlier this year and now takes over as leader of the facility south of Boise. Jim Woods to Manage Twin Falls Operations August 28, 2003 Boise---The Idaho Department of Correction has just opened a new Community Work Center at South Idaho Correctional Institution (SICI). The center adds 70 more beds to the state’s correctional system. Work Center Lieutenant Charlene Quilantan has been on the job just a month. She sees a center filled with possibilities. “We’re going to create a strength-based community model,” Quilantan says. “We’ll focus on what offenders do well and what they do right.” Right now, 21 offenders are housed in the dormitory style work center. The center’s 70 beds will be full by mid-September. The added beds are important at a time when prisons are at or near 100% of capacity, but the department is also excited to add this resource to help offenders make the transition from prison to community more successfully. Work Centers are designed to help offenders transition to society as they near the end of their sentences. They have jobs in the community, pay for their own clothing, pay restitution, give part of their wages to the state for housing costs and are also able to save money. During these tight economic times this work center was built on a shoestring budget. The facility is actually six modular buildings joined together inside the perimeter at South Idaho Correctional Institution. All staff positions were acquired through restructuring. None are new positions. The CWC will also share resources with SICI; programming, meals, visitation facilities, and the dining room will all be used jointly. A portion of the dining hall will be sectioned off to create a day room for work center offenders. The work center manager’s face lights up as she talks about the opportunity to run this transitional facility. Lt. Quilantan sees the work center as a place where offenders can practice what they have learned in programming in a positive, supportive environment. “We’re a community center. Whether they’re inside prisons or boys and girls clubs, or the Y, we’re all after the same goal; providing a safe environment to improve or learn pro-social skills,” Quilantan says.
Aug 6, 2003 Boise------An automated phone service designed to help victims of crime has answered more than one thousand queries during its first six months of serving Idaho victims. The Department of Correction and Parole Commission launched the hotline in February. Since then 230 people have signed up to receive automatic notification if an offender is released, transfers or escapes. More than 1,000 people have called the hotline to make inquiries about offenders in the department’s custody. “I’ve had so many people call and tell me thank you, that this system gives them peace of mind,” says Victims Services Coordinator Bruce Gordon. The VINE system notified 11 of those who registered that the offender they wanted information on was being released from prison. 60 people received word that the inmate they were concerned about was transferring to another facility. VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a toll-free, 24-hour telephone hotline. Users can call anonymously for offender custody status updates, and register for automatic notification. IDOC’s VINE Line: 1-877-VINE-4-ID (1-877-846-3443.) As the VINE Line celebrates this milestone, the department is also launching a new service for the community of Cottonwood. Today, the department is testing an Emergency Community Notification system (ECN). The system automatically notifies citizens of any escape from the North Idaho Correctional Institution. The system will be tested at 4pm today (Wednesday, August 6). The ECN system is serviced by Appris, the same company that provides VINE notifications. VINE is supported by a grant through the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice. It was awarded to the Idaho Department of Correction through the Idaho State Police.
IDOC begins new service for Cottonwood August 5, 2003 Cottonwood---This week, the Idaho Department of Correction is testing a new Emergency Community Notification system (ECN). The system automatically notifies citizens of any escape from the North Idaho Correctional Institution. The system will be tested at 4pm tomorrow, Wednesday, August 6. ECN will dial the numbers of all Idaho County residents who have signed up for notification. The automated message will state, “This is a test.” It will go on to give an example of what the message that would be delivered if there were an actual escape. In the past, NICI staff members have made all those calls the old-fashioned way, by dialing each number. NICI Warden Lynn Guyer (goo-YUR) says tomorrow’s test is a chance for the community to make the system better. “We’re looking from feedback from the community, we want to know if it worked,” Guyer states. “Please give us a call with suggestions.” The Emergency Community Notification system (ECN) is serviced by Appriss, the same company that provides VINE, Victim Information Notification Everyday. VINE and ECN are supported by a grant through the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice. The grant was awarded to the Idaho Department of Correction through the Idaho State Police. To sign up for notification or give comment on the Wednesday’s test
please call: July 24, 2003 Boise---Randy Blades has been chosen as warden of the Idaho State Correctional Institution, Idaho's largest prison. Blades recently returned from the military mission in Iraq where he served with the US Marine Corps as a first sergeant. He was the senior enlisted and advisor to the commander of an engineer company that followed the main effort into Iraq and provided combat engineer support. His new mission is to lead the staff at the Idaho Department of Correction medium security facility. Blades started his career with the Department of Correction in 1988 as a correctional officer. He has also served as a sergeant, lieutenant and was most recently deputy warden at ISCI. Blades also launched the department's Office of Professional Standards to give staff a way to bring forward concerns and complaints and have them investigated in a professional and ethical manner. Blades called his promotion from deputy warden to warden an honor. Blades says, "The Idaho State Correctional Institution represents a professional team of dedicated state employees. Safely managing offenders, providing opportunities for change, and successfully returning offenders to the community is the heartbeat of ISCI. I am honored to lead ISCI into the future as warden." Blades officially took over as warden on Monday, July 21. He replaces Dave Paskett who retired last week after more than 30 years with the department. Facts about ISCI:
Million Dollar Milestone Reached July 17, 2003 Twin Falls---The Twin Falls Community Work Center (CWC) reached a milestone that was years in the making. Work Center offenders earned more than one million dollars in wages during Fiscal Year 2003. A quarter of that $1,011,352 goes back to the state's general fund to help pay for what it costs to house the offenders. That meant a $250,368 boost to the state's general fund from offenders housed at the Twin Falls Community Work Center. Work center offenders are those who are nearing the end of their incarceration. They are community custody level offenders who work and are supervised outside the facility during the day and return to the CWC when they're not on the job. Offenders at the work center also perform hours of volunteer service. Recently offenders at the Twin Falls CWC helped remodel the Twin Falls Senior Citizens Center. The wages earned by the Twin Falls Community Work Center residents are put back into the local economy by paying court costs, fines, and restitution. Residents also pay child support and family support. They prepare for their release by purchasing vehicles, renting homes, buying food, clothing, and household furnishings. District 5 and the CWC announced the earnings milestone during an Open House on Thursday. The Open House is part of local efforts to honor probation and parole officers and work center employees for their efforts to keep the public safe. Governor Kempthorne has declared the week of July 13th as Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Officer's Week. Kempthorne's proclamation states that probation and parole officers enhance public safety and provide a vital service. It reads in part, "…community justice and community safety are enhanced both by their efforts to monitor the activities of offenders under community supervision, and by their efforts to provide effective substance abuse and other treatment programs…" The Department of Correction probation and parole officers in the Magic Valley are facing one of the fastest growing community corrections populations in the state. The District 5 office experienced a growth rate of more than 20% in its community corrections caseload. Last year, PO's in the Magic Valley managed 1,010 cases, now they're handling 1,244.
June 3, 2003 Boise ---The Department of Correction has chosen Lynn Guyer as the new warden at North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI). For Guyer, this is a return to where he began his career with the department. He was a Correctional Officer at NICI in 1986. Guyer currently manages the Twin Falls Community Work Center and the District 5 Probation and Parole Office in Twin Falls. During his 15 years with the department, Guyer has also served as a probation and parole officer, parole coordinator, and program coordinator. He will make the transition to NICI during the week of June 9th. "Cottonwood is a great community and I look forward to partnering with the community and continuing to keep the lines of communication open," says Guyer. "This transition in leadership isn't about change, it's about continuing to build on the work already started by the current Warden Dave Nelsen." NICI is a minimum-security facility for male offenders serving 120-day riders. The institution focuses on programming and education. Its mission is to give offenders the tools to make it on probation and keep them out of prison. Guyer replaces Dave Nelsen who served as NICI warden for the past year. Nelsen has been promoted to Deputy Administrator of Operations. Nelsen's new role will include administrative oversight of NICI as well as other institutions and district offices across the entire state of Idaho.
Department streamlines program: finds savings May 16, 2003 Cottonwood---The effort to find efficiencies in the Department of Correction is creating savings. Working with judges, the IDOC has streamlined the way it moves some offenders through the system and back into court more swiftly. "We focused on streamlining this one process and it has saved us $260,000 in the first four months we tested it. It will save us about $400,000 dollars a year," said Director Tom Beauclair. Beauclair notes that the savings are put back into the system to help pay for the increasing offender population. Here's how it all started: When Dave Nelsen became warden at North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI) last fall he discovered that riders in the Cottonwood facility often had to wait six or seven days after completing the 120 day program before they returned to court. He asked case-workers at the facility if they could speed up the process. Judges agreed to move up court dates and transportation realigned to meet the additional demands. The end result says Nelsen, "Instead of spending 127 days at the facility, most are in and out of NICI in 121 days." That trims six days from the riders stay at NICI, and saves several hundred dollars for each rider. The savings don't stop there. All offenders admitted to the prison system must go through the Receiving and Diagnostic Unit (RDU) at the Idaho State Correctional Institution. ISCI managers took a hard look at how to speed the process up as riders came into the system. ISCI Deputy Warden Michael Johnson says the diagnostic process for riders is now complete in eight days with riders transported to Cottonwood in 14-16 days. Last January, the processing took 12 days and the average stay before transport was 19 days. The bottom line savings of moving riders through the system more quickly is approximately $260,000 so far in FY03 and will be about $400,000 in the years to come. The effort reflects the department's effort scrutinize all spending and make all parts of corrections more efficient and effective. What is a rider? Offenders in the rider program are sentenced to prison for 120 days while the judge retains jurisdiction in their case. After completing programming and education classes in the rider program they return to court. If they've done well the judge will grant probation. The judge can also revoke the rider and sentence them to term for their felony crime. Where are riders housed? Male riders spend their 120 day rider at North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI) in Cottonwood. Female riders go to South Boise Women's Correctional Center (SBWCC) south of Boise.
Corrections Administrator to Help in Iraq April 30, 2003 Boise---A top leader at the Idaho Department of Correction is leaving his administrative post for a new mission in Iraq. Administrator of Operations Joe Klauser has been chosen to help establish a viable criminal justice/law enforcement system in Iraq. Klauser will be part of a State Department team helping Iraq through its transition to a new government. "I believe that restoring order in Iraq and Afghanistan is critical in our nation's fight against worldwide terrorism," Klauser told staff as he announced his decision to take on the overseas role. Like those deploying for military duty, Klauser must respond quickly. He will leave for briefings and orientation in Virginia within the next few days. "Our team is comprised of 150 people from law enforcement, the judiciary branch and corrections. I know we will travel through Iraq assessing the culture and current systems." Klauser has worked for the Department of Correction for 16 years. He was manager at Correctional Industries, deputy warden at Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI) and a warden at Idaho State Correctional Institution (ISCI) before moving into an administrative role. In 2001, Klauser became Administrator of Operations and has been instrumental with the reorganization of the Department of Correction. Service is no new concept for Klauser; he served a 21-year career in the U.S. Air Force before moving into corrections. Corrections Director Tom Beauclair says Klauser will be missed. "He has played a key leadership role in the reorganization and change efforts of the department. His creative talents and natural leadership abilities will be difficult to replace." Klauser delayed retirement to be a part of the Department of Correction reorganization. Those efforts brought community corrections and prisons together under Klauser's leadership so they could work more closely and effectively in transitioning offenders back to communities. He remains supportive of the direction of the Department but says he couldn't pass up the opportunity to be part of what he calls an "idealistic effort" to build a corrections and criminal justice system from the ground up.
NICI Warden promoted to Deputy Administrator April 14, 2003 Boise ---The Department of Correction has chosen a criminal justice leader from north Idaho to assume an important statewide corrections role. Dave Nelsen has been named as Deputy Administrator of Operations. Nelsen is currently warden at North Idaho Correctional Institution (NICI). Before his recent promotion to warden at NICI, Nelsen served as a District Manager of the District 2 Probation and Parole Office in Lewiston. Nelsen has over 20 years of experience in the criminal justice field, including a dozen years with the Department of Correction. In his new role, Nelsen will oversee all prisons and probation and parole offices outside of the Treasure Valley. In making the appointment, Operations Administrator Joe Klauser said, "Dave is respected in the criminal justice system and holds the potential to partake a greater leadership role in the Department." Nelsen will move from northern Idaho to Boise in mid-June. A search is underway for a warden to replace Nelsen at NICI. The Deputy Administrator of Operations position was vacated in December when Rudy Evenson retired. Nelsen joins the current Deputy Administrator of Operations Pam Sonnen. Sonnen will continue oversight of Boise prisons and District offices, while Nelsen will oversee all other IDOC sites statewide.
March 31, 2003 St. Anthony---The Department of Correction will soon move offenders into tents to help handle projected prison population growth. Tents are already in place at the St. Anthony Work Camp (SAWC) and offenders will move in later this week. It is a temporary solution that is much less costly than sending overflow inmates out of state. Tents were placed at St. Anthony last year to help manage growth. This year, the offenders housed in the tents will be trained as fire crews. Some will work in local processing plants. "We closed down the tents last fall because of inclement weather. We're reactivating the tents to ease the burden of overcrowding and also to fulfill our contractual obligations to provide fire crews for the US Forest Service," says Administrator of Operations Joe Klauser. "The tents are a temporary measure to house inmates while we work to acquire an annex at the work camp and expand bed capacity inside the facility," says Klauser. The work camp currently houses 125 inmates. The tents will increase the capacity to nearly 200, the same number as is expected if the additional space is added in another portion of the same building. The tents are part of the department's efforts to manage projected prison growth.
More cuts put Corrections at risk March 10, 2003 Boise---This week, the Idaho House will vote on a proposed budget for FY2003 that includes a four-percent holdback for the Department of Correction. "We cannot safely manage prisons with this level of cut, it puts the public at risk. Our vulnerability and liability are just too great," stated Corrections Director Tom Beauclair. Friday, the Senate passed a FY2003 budget that includes the four-percent holdback. It would amount to $561,000 for Department of Correction on top of the $3.9 million the agency has already absorbed this fiscal year. "This proposed cut comes at a time when we're already vulnerable. We've trimmed 97 positions over the past 18 months because of budget holdbacks. At the same time, we've added nearly 1,300 offenders to the system, 273 in prisons and 962 on probation and parole," said Beauclair. "We worked very closely with the Governor to make all the cuts we could. This crosses the safety threshold." In addition to the proposed cut, the Department also faces more than half a million dollars in additional fixed costs, supplemental requests that haven't yet been funded. Those medical and housing costs are already spent. All are directly related to a growing offender population. One example: The IDOC used cost-efficient tents to house some offenders this summer instead of sending prisoners and money out of state. The solution saved money, but the $100,000 supplemental to pay it hasn't been appropriated yet. Concerned about a continued drain on its abilities to protect the public and provide security, the Department of Correction wants the public to know the risk. "Our main mission is to protect the public, and this budget compromises that mission," said Beauclair.
Another rope seized from inmate Braae February 11, 2003 Boise---Security professionals at Idaho Maximum Security Institution have seized a rope and a lock-picking device from the cell of inmate Michael Braae. This is the third time a rope has been discovered and tied to a possible escape attempt by inmate Braae. On Sunday, February 9th, officers discovered a heavy braided rope and a lock pick hidden in Braae's cell. Correctional officers believe Braae used his security blanket to braid six individual ropes totaling a length of 37 feet. The lock pick was created out of a three-inch piece of metal. It is not known where Braae obtained the metal. As a result of this latest discovery, officers have removed more property from Braae's cell. The inmate now has just a hard mat, security blanket and a pair of boxer shorts. His cell was searched just two days before the Sunday discovery. The frequency of searches of his cell will also be increased. This is the third time officers have discovered a rope and tied it to possible escape attempt by Braae. On January 2nd, officers doing a targeted security check of an exercise area discovered three five-foot long pieces of nylon hidden in a crevice in the exercise unit. Correctional officers traced the evidence back to Braae and found additional evidence of an escape plan in his cell. On December 15, a rope made from a laundry bag was discovered in his cell. Braae is serving time at IMSI for aggravated assault and eluding an officer. He was sentenced March 15, 2002 out of Payette County. Washington State is currently attempting to extradite Braae to face charges in that state.
Wednesday, February 5, 2003 Boise -- The Idaho Department of Correction is providing an important new service to victims of crime. Today, the IDOC announced that on February 17, the department formally launches VINE, a victim notification service. VINE automatically notifies victims of crime when an offender in a state-run prison facility is released, transferred or escapes. VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a toll-free, 24-hour telephone hotline. Users can call anonymously for offender custody status updates, and register for automatic notification. "Information is the most important resource we can provide victims of crime," says Bruce Gordon, Victim Service Coordinator for the Idaho Department of Correction. "This vital information will assist them in regaining control of their lives." The IDOC VINE also offers parole and probation information including parole hearing, case expiration and parole eligibility dates. The Idaho Commission of Pardons & Parole is a partner in this project. VINE is a service provided by Appriss Inc. Appriss President Mike Davis praises the IDOC implementation of VINE. "Idaho deserves congratulations for giving its crime victims one of the nations most comprehensive statewide offender information services. Anyone who's concerned about an offender's status has immediate access to current custody, parole and probation information. We've seen people all over the country regain control over their lives with the information VINE provides. It's gratifying to see Idaho giving its citizens that same resource." Idaho becomes the 27th State Department of Correction to launch VINE. Ada County implemented Idaho's first county-based VINE program in 2000. It will not be affected by the IDOC's VINE system and the two services provide information on different offenders. You may call the IDOC's VINE Line after February 17, 2003 at 1-877-VINE-4-ID (1-877-846-3443.)
Idaho prison program ranks second in nation Thursday, January 30, 2003 Boise---The Idaho Department of Correction recently received the results of assessments on its programs around the state. The Therapeutic Community at the South Idaho Correctional Institution (SICI) was ranked second in the nation among the therapeutic communities (TC's) surveyed. The Wolf Therapeutic Community at the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center (PWCC) also did very well, ranking fourth in overall scores. The rankings are according to the University of Cincinnati. Researchers from the University's Center for Criminal Justice Research surveyed 27 TC's nationwide. The measure used for the scoring is the Correctional Program Assessment Inventory (CPAI). The CPAI is used to determine if programs are using "What Works". Those are the principles that are known to work effectively to change offender behaviors. The measures rank everything from the experience of the staff to how offenders are assessed before and after programming. The Pre Release Center at the South Idaho Correctional Institution (SICI) received the highest ranking in Idaho with a 69.3 overall score. The Pre Release Center serves 100 offenders with substance abuse problems. The report praises the assessment tools used to place offenders in the program and the therapeutic community's social learning model. It recommends the therapeutic community more closely match treatment levels to the offender's level of risk and higher education levels for staff. In Pocatello, the PWCC Wolf Therapeutic Community serves 63 females with substance abuse problems. Its strengths were the staff, the way TC workers assess offenders needs, and the social learning model that helps offenders become more social. It scored an unsatisfactory on evaluation because the TC has been in existence less than a year and has no track record on outcomes. The overall score was 66.1. The Idaho Department of Correction runs three therapeutic communities. Since 90 to 95% of all offenders are returning to communities, these treatment programs are essential in providing offenders opportunities to change their behaviors and fit back into society when they are released. Mike Rothwell is deputy administrator of programs at the Department of Correction. Rothwell calls these initial inventories a good place to start. "These surveys are a good baseline for the future," Rothwell says. "They allow us to see where we need to concentrate our efforts so our programs will be even more effective and focused in the future." The department's third therapeutic community is at the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino. Its scoring was combined with other institution programs for an overall score of 50.7. According to the report, ICIO is doing a good job of assessing offenders' needs as they enter, but needs to do more to reassess and follow up on TC graduates. The Corrections Corporation of America manages the Idaho Correctional Center south of Boise. ICC's Lifeline Therapeutic Community scored a 42 on the CPAI assessment.
IMSI Electronics fail again, inmates get out of cells News Release- January 27, 2003 Boise-The electronic locking system at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution (IMSI) failed again Sunday night. But this time when doors opened on the C block, six inmates--including two convicted murderers--came out of their cells and refused to return. The situation was serious enough that security professionals went in armed with a shotgun and OC spray (a form of pepper spray). One inmate still refused to follow the officer's order until the officer chambered a bean bag round into the shotgun. The sound made the inmate comply. The situation could have been even worse. A total of 16 doors in C block opened, but just six inmates came out. Warden Greg Fisher says the system continues to be a concern, but this is the most serious incident his professionals have handed because of the locking system during his year and a half at IMSI. "Staff here work in tense situation under the best of circumstances. For the electronics on our locking system to be unreliable makes it even more dangerous. Last night's situation points out, again, just how serious of a public safety issue this is," Fisher says. Last night, the electronics on two blocks failed. The A Block doors were reset without incident, but when the staff tried to reset the C Block area, the doors opened. This is the eleventh (11th) failure with the electronics this month alone. In most cases, the staff is able to override the locks and keep doors from opening. In other situations they've gone to key control, a more time-consuming process of using keys to open and lock each door. The electronic locking system has been in place since Idaho's Maximum Security Institution opened in 1989. The Department of Correction received $3 million in the last budget to fix the IMSI system and one just like it at a north Idaho institution. All but $1 million was cut because of the state's budget situation. The IDOC is using that money to design the new system, but is still waiting for additional funding to replace the electronics that continually fail. The governor's budget recommendation does include funding to replace the failing system. Lawmakers must still approve it. IMSI houses Idaho's most dangerous offenders and is where inmates with death sentences are housed. It is Idaho's most secure prison.
News Release- January 22, 2003 Boise-An inmate was found dead in his cell this morning at the Idaho State Correctional Institution (ISCI). Just before 1:00 am, his cellmate notified staff there might be a problem. When correctional officers responded they found Edward Michael Larsen lying face down on his bunk and not breathing. Medical personnel at the prison said Larsen couldn't be revived. A representative of the Ada County coroner's office also responded to ISCI and declared Larsen's death. Larsen was 36 years old. He was serving a 3-to-6 year sentence for sexual abuse of a child under 16. He was sentenced in Bingham County in November 1999. The Ada County Coroner's office performed an autopsy this afternoon and ruled out foul play. They will do a toxicology screening but say all indications are Larsen's heart was enlarged and his heart simply quit.
Mold concerns force closure of medical trailers News Release-Friday, January 17, 2003 Boise-The Idaho Department of Correction has closed two old trailers that served as a medical facility for all offenders at two institutions south of Boise. The trailers are located at South Idaho Correctional Institution (SICI). Tests reveal mold is present in both trailers, and one location in the administration trailer does contain a mold species that can cause health concerns in certain circumstances. Some of the employees who work inside the trailers have complained about mildew odors and headaches. "We're taking this very seriously. We want to make certain this problem gets cleaned up and the employees have a safe working environment," says Joe Klauser, Operations Administrator. The twelve health care professionals who worked in the trailers set up a makeshift medical facility at a multi-purpose building on the SICI campus and started work there this week. That building is normally used for education, training, legal needs and recreation. Over the next few weeks the department will rent trailers to house the medical operations. The health care professionals who work out of the trailers provide service for 659 inmates at SICI and also for more than 100 women at South Boise Women's Correctional Center (SBWCC). In addition to the temporary location, some medical services will also be provided at Idaho State Correctional Institution (ISCI). The Department of Correction and lawmakers have recognized the need for a new medical facility at SICI. Last year's legislature approved the funding for constructing a medical facility but the money was deferred because of the budget crisis. The SICI Medical Facility is the department's number two capital budget request for Fiscal Year 2004. It would cost $949,000 to build a 7,200 square foot facility. Because of current growth, the department is adding modulars and converting an old farm building to add 170 beds at SICI, making the need for medical space even more critical.
Department of Correction reacts to Budget address News Release- January 9, 2003 Boise---Department of Correction Director Tom Beauclair is calling his agency's FY2004 budget a maintenance budget, but one that shows true leadership by the governor. The Department of Correction budget is tight, $131.85 million for an agency that continues to see growing prison and probation and parole populations. "It will be a maintenance budget for the Department of Correction and we will continue to do our part to streamline where possible and watch every dollar. We won't lose the focus of our mission to protect the public." Director Beauclair told staff members the State of Idaho is faring better than other states in this current economic crisis even though times are currently tight. "Governor Kempthorne is demonstrating tremendous leadership during this recession. It takes a lot of courage for a Republican governor to call for a tax hike, but as the governor pointed out, it is a budget that retains critical services for the citizens of Idaho. In the Department of Correction's case, that service is to protect the public." The governor did include funding for additional beds. Beauclair says, "Governor Kempthorne has seen some critical needs in our agency because of offender population growth." The budget includes money to add beds and probation and parole officers for a growing community corrections population. Current estimates are that the population will grow at an annual rate of 8.5% per year for prisons and 6% per year in supervised offenders (probation and parole) in FY2003. The Department of Correction cut 83 positions in FY03 to help the state through the budget crisis and continues reviewing its operations to create additional savings. Staff contributed many cost-cutting ideas to help the state through the budget crisis. The IDOC is now serving offenders cold meals at noon, instead of hot lunch at a cost savings of $230,000 each year. Another innovative cost saving idea being implemented at several prisons is having offenders wear scrubs instead of denim clothing. That move will save the department an estimated $29,000 each year.
Security pros stop Braae escape plan News Release-January 3, 2003 Boise---Security professionals at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution have stopped an escape plan by inmate Michael Braae, and they say it's not the first time he's tried to get out Idaho's most secure prison. On January 2nd, officers doing a targeted security check of an exercise area discovered three five-foot long pieces of nylon hidden in a crevice in the exercise unit. Correctional officers traced the evidence back to Braae and discovered the 5-foot long sections of blanket had been torn from a blanket in Braae's cell. They believe he was planning to use the strips to make a rope. IMSI Warden Greg Fisher applauds the security staff. "It's the every day efforts of our security staff that keep this community safe from the inmates committed to our custody and care." During recent budget cuts two positions had to be cut at IMSI. While security personnel were cut at other facilities, IMSI did not cut any correctional officer positions, "It's critical we're able to keep the public safe and Idaho's Maximum Security Institution truly secure," says Fisher. In addition to the modified blanket the strips were taken from, correctional officers also found drawings of the teeth of keys commonly used in the B-block at IMSI where Braae is housed. As a result of this latest evidence, Braae will be placed in restraints when he is exercised. The institution has taken other security precautions. Braae is serving time at IMSI for aggravated assault and eluding an officer. He was sentenced March 15, 2002 out of Payette County. Washington State is currently attempting to extradite Braae to face charges in that state. Here are the other Braae apparent escape efforts uncovered by Idaho's corrections professionals during his time at IMSI:
News Release-January 3, 2003 Boise-Locking failures continue at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Maintenance staff report they have power fluctuations with the locking system that create potential failures about twice each week. They're working to keep the electronic system going until the Idaho Department of Correction is able to secure funding to replace it and also replace the same outdated system at the department's prison in Orofino, the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino. The electronic locks secure all the cell doors where Idaho's most violent inmates are held. When the locks fail sometimes all the doors on tiers open at once meaning cell doors for all the inmates on a tier open at once without any warning. Department of Correction Director Tom Beauclair says, "This antiquated system creates an unacceptable risk to staff and offenders. I'll be talking with lawmakers about this critical security issue. The Braae escape plan just underscores how important it is to make certain these concerns are addressed." The Division of Public Works agreed to fund the $3 million replacement last year. All but $1 million of the funding was deferred during FY02 because of the budget crisis. That $1 million is now being used to design a new system for IMSI. The Division of Public Works voted late last year to make the locking system its top funding priority, but it still needs legislative approval to move forward. |
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