Youth (under 15)

In August, Vera submitted an interim report to the Louisiana DOC (LADOC) that memorialized the first and second site visits in the first half of the year. The report shared what Vera has learned about the LADOC system as well as summarized our site visits. Additionally, Vera conducted the third site visit with LADOC in August. For this trip, Vera met with staff and leadership and toured the medium security facility of Rayburn Correctional Center.

In August, Vera conducted a call with NCDPS to check in about implementation progress being made, how implementation of the revised disciplinary process is going, when NCDPS will be able to send Vera the next round of outcomes data, and more.

Vera provided the Nevada DOC with TA in the following ways:
7/11/17: Vera reviewed SB 402 that was signed into law in Nevada, which limits the use of segregation for persons who are SMI. Vera proposed second site visit dates.
7/24/17: Vera prepared for the upcoming site visit at NDOC. Vera reviewed plans, goals, and information needs for a successful site visit with NDOC leadership.

Vera provided TA to Virginia’s DOC via July's SAS Initiative Advisory Council and All-Sites Meeting which was a 2-day gathering of each of the State DOC Administrators/Site Coordinators currently involved in the Initiative. The meeting provided sites the opportunity to share information on their system-wide progress to date, successes achieved, and challenges faced, along with successful strategies for sustainability and maintaining ongoing support for reform efforts.

Vera provided TA to Utah DOC via July's SAS Initiative Advisory Council and All-Sites Meeting which was a 2-day gathering of each of the State DOC Administrators/Site Coordinators currently involved in the Initiative. The meeting provided sites the opportunity to share information on their system-wide progress to date, successes achieved, and challenges faced, along with successful strategies for sustainability and maintaining ongoing support for reform efforts.

Vera had a meeting via phone on July 7th to discuss NCDPS's planned rollout of their revised disciplinary policy (which will go into effect on July 17th) and staff trainings that were taking place; to get updates on the progress of the Rehabilitative Diversion Units and the Therapeutic Diversion Units; and to discuss short- and long-term priorities and strategies for reform. Two DPS representatives (Director Kenneth Lassiter and Karen Pardue) attended the SAS Initiative Advisory Council and All-Sites Meeting in Washington, DC on July 18-19.

The entire Vera/Louisiana team had their second site visit with LADOC. We had a facility meeting and tour at David Wade Correctional Center (DWCC) one day and returned another day to conduct focus groups. Then we held focus groups in the other two facilities (Elayne Hunt Correctional Center and Louisiana State Penitentiary). All focus groups were with incarcerated people, mental health staff, line staff, and unit managers. The information gleaned from this trip will be included in the first interim report and will inform the team's final recommendations to LADOC.

The entire Vera/Louisiana team had their second site visit with LADOC. We had a facility meeting and tour at David Wade Correctional Center (DWCC) one day and returned another day to conduct focus groups. Then we held focus groups in the other two facilities (Elayne Hunt Correctional Center and Louisiana State Penitentiary). All focus groups were with incarcerated people, mental health staff, line staff, and unit managers. The information gleaned from this trip will be included in the first interim report and will inform the team's final recommendations to LADOC.

In May, Vera conducted the first implementation site visit with North Carolina DPS. Vera had meetings with DPS leadership at headquarters in Raleigh, visited Central Prison (in particular to see and speak with staff about the Therapeutic Diversion Unit there), visited Marion Correctional Institution (in particular to see and speak with staff about the Rehabilitative Diversion Unit program there), and visited Foothills Correctional Institution (in particular to see and speak with staff about the Youthful Offender Program).

Vera provided TTA to the Louisiana DOC (LADOC) in the following ways: