Reducing the Use of Segregation

In December, Vera continued to regularly check-in with UDC leadership to clarify the qualitative and quantitative data we collected regarding both system-wide and unit level policies and practices. Vera staff also facilitated a conference call with UDC’s site lead in order to review our findings and recommendations. Vera also worked diligently to draft findings and recommendations for UDC and is preparing for the presentation of recommendations next January.

Vera convened and facilitated an in-person meeting with select members of VADOC leadership to present findings and recommendations in preparation for the transition to the implementation phase of the project. As part of the convening, Vera staff met with heads of multiple VADOC work committees responsible for integrating our findings and recommendations into the roll-out of VADOCs reforms.

In December, there was an email thread proposing, modifying, and tentatively scheduling site visit for January 2018 between Vera and MNDOC. On 12/18, there was a regular meeting with MNDOC site leads to establish site visit plan, identify critical visitation objectives, and goals for site visit. On 12/19, Vera followed up with MNDOC site lead regarding upcoming site visit and meetings. On, 12/21, emails were exchanged confirming with the MNDOC site lead visitation itineraries and other logistics.

The Vera team emailed correspondence with Ely State Prison wardens to establish next steps for addressing concerns around STG placements in and releases from segregation units on 12/7. On 12/18 and 12/20, the team had phone calls confirming Vera's visit to present findings and recommendations (on 1/12/18). These included outlining Vera's needs, plans, a framework for the presentation and a discussion about who would be present and participating in the meeting.

In an effort to hone our findings and recommendations for UDC, the UT team developed remaining questions for UDC leadership regarding their policies and practices. Ongoing correspondence with our site lead (Jerry Pope) enabled the Vera team to integrate the answers to these questions into our preliminary findings and recommendations. The Vera team discussed with our UDC site lead the format for the UT findings and recommendations presentation along with ideas for future blogs re. UDC operations and relationships with external stakeholders.

In November, Vera had a check-in call with VADOC's Tori Raiford in preparation for follow-up on-site meeting with VADOC leadership scheduled for November 16th. The goal of the November meeting is: 1) to hear how VADOC is progressing with their reforms to date, and 2) to have VADOC leadership identify which of our VA team's recommendations they are ready to start implementing, versus those recommendations that may require additional information and/or discussion.

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.