Persons with Disabilities

During this reporting period, the NYDCCS team reviewed the training videos and curriculum for the female facility. Some goals and strategies were significantly changed and/or new strategies were identified. A GAM may be required to reallocate funds. Delivery of Advocacy Training, and Cellebrite Training are pending. The delivery of Supportive Trauma-Informed Treatment Services for LGBTIQ+ Individuals with Community Providers is pending additional quotes from vendors. Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) training was completed.

During this reporting period, the agency PREA Coordinator (PC) discussed difficulties the agency has with PREA implementation. The coaches established an agenda for the coaching calls with all grant goals listed. This will assist the grantee with staying on task with goals. The coaches will provide guidelines to input progress, and assignments. The PC was assigned additional duties since the compliance staff left the agency. The PC expressed concerns about hiring one investigator. The investigator is expected to be on board at the beginning of 2024.

During this review period, the grant strategies are under revision. The budget and program GAM was discussed. Since the on-site visit, there has been no information from MCSO leadership regarding the strategy denial, request for further information, and goal revisions. An NCE was submitted and is pending approval. During the goal revision process, the coaches were heavily involved and reviewed the agency response to the BJA's request for additional information, budget justification, and budget breakdown for three areas which were pending approval/denial.

During this review period, the team discussed the requirements of PREA Standard 115.315. The PC was assisted with her presentation to the leadership team and to form a workgroup to begin discussing the PREA Standards. The meeting went well, and the leadership committed to providing resources necessary for PREA compliance. The team discussed scheduling a PREA audit for 2024. Coaches cautioned that without access to documentation or policy, it's difficult to assess whether the facility is prepared for an audit.

During this review period, girls were moved from a contract facility to a LA OJJ facility that previously housed boys. The girls are expected to remain at the facility for six months. The boys were moved into a different facility. The PC requested guidance on providing staff with training on gender responsive practices. The team discussed a variety of training possibilities, including LA OJJ funding training under other grants. The coaches also offered to assist with policy and SOP review. The agency completed follow-up meetings from the leadership retreat.

During this review period, the camera instillation work continued. The facility had an ACA audit and is preparing for a PREA audit. This is causing some delays in goal strategy completion. The PREA Coordinator reviewed images from the new cameras and was impressed with the quality. The staff are excited to have all cameras on one server to conduct investigations. The server is expected to have a 60-day memory. The PC is considering a longitudinal analysis to mark when cameras were activated and their effect on PREA investigation findings of unsubstantiated.

During this review period, the PREA policies and coordinated response were revised and reviewed by the co-coaches. Forms referenced in the policy were also reviewed and revised. Coaches provided guidance on developing a PREA risk screening tool and process. PREA pamphlets and signage was developed. The implementation plan goals will be revised and submitted after the on-site visit. The agency does not want to use funds on an evaluator since there is no formal PREA program at the agency. An NCE was submitted and approved.

During this reporting period, the agency's revised implementation plan (IP) was completed and turned in to BJA during this reporting period. The IP was approved on May 11, 2023. The new camera wiring quote was received and submitted for approval. New servers were ordered and pending delivery. An operating system for the cameras was not identified and selected during this reporting period. There are compatibility issues that need to be addressed before the cameras can be ordered. Different cameras are needed for each operating system being considered.

During this reporting period, the camera project commenced for multiple facilities with one invoice being approved. The Parchman facility needs to be added to the GAM for additional cameras. The Central Mississippi Correctional (CMC) youthful offender unit camera project was completed. Due to the ongoing project of training the staff on the new cameras, there is no data for unsubstantiated allegations. The agency contact is working with the deputy superintendents to get the baseline data at the other facilities.

During this reporting period, weekly coaching meetings with the PREA Coordinator continued. The team discussed beginning PREA standards training for the PC. The team will take two or three PREA standards each meeting and discuss how it applies to HCDC, and how to implement it at that facility. The team discussed the PC attending NIC's PREA Coordinator's Roles & Responsibilities training upon completion of investigator training. The team also discussed the need to have an organizational chart indicate the PC has direct access to HCDC chief administrator regarding PREA matters.