Juvenile (under 18, or as designated by the state)

In November, Vera coordinated emails regarding a future visit to present findings and recommendations and coordinated emails outlining Vera's TA process and needs for presenting findings and recommendations. Additionally, there was an email discussion regarding the potential move of 200 men out of state from Nevada to Arizona into a private prison facility. Vera had a call with CO Duran to check in on reforms in NV and coordination with Vera and before the end of the month, there was confirmation for January visit for findings and recommendations.

In November, the team emailed to MNDOC to share a system map analysis of pathways into segregation. There was a conference call to review analysis and plan for future meetings with step down coordinator and an email exchange regarding MNDOC support needed from Ohio DOC Director Gary Mohr. The team learned about the MN step down program successes and challenges, and provided MN DOC staff with further review of reform efforts.

The Vera team worked diligently on drafting their findings and recommendations for the LADOC in November. The team finished analyzing the DOC’s policies and data and is now preparing for the presentation of recommendations in February. The team also set up a call with MASS Design Group, an architecture firm, for 12/1/17 to discuss repurposing Camp J (the restricted housing facility at Louisiana State Penitentiary). Lastly, the team is planning an upcoming meeting with Andrea Armstrong from Loyola Law School to discuss oversight mechanisms.

In October while the Louisiana team continued with the data and policy analyses, Senior Program Associate David Cloud and Project Director Sara Sullivan held a call with Louisiana DOC (LADOC) site partner Seth Smith and Secretary James Le Blanc to discuss the agency’s intentions to close Angola’s Camp J restricted housing unit as well as to invite the LADOC to apply for a new grant from Vera’s Center on Youth Justice that would offer technical assistance to convert space into a young adult facility.

The MN team conducted the following TA in October: Introductory conference call meeting to new MN DOC site lead, Sharlene Lopez. We outlined where we are in the MN DOC/Vera partnership and what we see looking forward; Phone meeting with MN DOC site lead to address gaps in knowledge, potential reforms to restrictive housing, and identify requests of Advisory Council peer mentor, Director Gary Mohr; Phone call with Advisory Council peer mentor, Director Gary Mohr of Ohio to brief him on MN DOC's progress, questions, and requests for support from him.

The MN team conducted the following TA in September: outreach by Vera staff to MNDOC via email; Email follow up with MNDOC regarding status of staffing changes, project updates; Phone meeting with Mary McComb, MNDOC liaison to discuss assessment time frame, confer about data analysis, and learn about project updates from MNDOC; Review of MNDOC policy reform documents provided by Mary McComb via email.

The NV team conducted the following TA in September: email communication regarding data validation; video conference meeting with NDOC research staff to address questions about the administrative data and analysis; follow up email related to the 9/7 meeting with research staff, the purpose of which was to frame the questions Vera staff had about data from NDOC; phone call with CO Duran to provide updated information regarding assessment timeline and project deliverables; email to outline data elements and data time frame with NDOC research staff; video conference meeting with NDOC research

The Vera team facilitated a five hour meeting with VADOC leadership -- including Director Harold Clarke -- where we presented preliminary observations and potential strategies for reform to VADOC's Segregation Reduction Committee. The team's observations were based on our five site visits to VADOC facilities to date where we met with VADOC facility staff on all levels (e.g., uniformed officers, programming and treatment staff, executive leadership).

On 9/13/17, the UT team held External Stakeholders WebEx meeting with UDOC leadership -- including Executive Director Rollin Cook, and Director of Prison Operations, Jerry Pope -- along with representatives from Utah's ACLU and Disability Law Center.

In September, the Louisiana team made progress in their data analyses, LADOC policy summaries, and outreach to external stakeholders. The team connected with Vera’s leadership and the internal Reimagining Prison initiative to figure out how Vera can assist the LADOC in repurposing of the cell-blocks at Camp J, a segregation unit, at the Louisiana State Penitentiary that will be closing by early 2018.