Young Adults (18 - 24)

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 NV team conducted the following TA in October: Email to NDOC site leads detailing progress on assessment, outlining next steps, and addressing scheduling matters; Phone call to NDOC site lead Duran following up on the 10/17 email detailing progress on assessment, outlining next steps, and addressing scheduling matters; Further follow-up to site leads adding even greater detail about progress on assessment, outlining next steps, and addressing scheduling matters.

The NC team conducted the following implementation TA in October: a phone meeting with DPS staff to check in, learn updates on reform efforts, and provide feedback; Provided (via email) written feedback on a draft memo from DPS, which summarizes some of their recent reforms.

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.

CSG Justice Center staff met with Chief Still and Dr. Taxman about implementation next steps and P&I Guide Check-in

Grantee has been working on completing the planning and implementation guide. This discussion allowed CSG staff to review the edits being requested for the P&I guide, as well as a chance for the grantee to ask any outstanding questions. Discussions also covered any updates regarding the project and learning more about the evaluation plan from the research partner.