Reducing the Use of Segregation

In August, Vera reviewed VADOC’s submission of qualitative and quantitative descriptive data including a data dictionary, disciplinary offense report information, and various other restrictive housing specific documents. The data request focused on four categories of statistical information: average daily population; admissions to segregation; releases from segregation; and disciplinary segregation.

In August, Vera conducted two TA calls with Utah. The first informational phone call with UDC's site lead (Jerry Pope, Director of Prison Operations) focused on rescheduling the upcoming external stakeholder meeting with representatives from Utah's local ACLU and Disability Law Center. The purpose of this planning activity was twofold: 1) to understand how the unique relationship between UDC, ACLU and DLC developed overtime, and 2) to cultivate and promote greater collaboration between all the SAS Initiative sites and their respective external stakeholders.

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 the Minnesota DOC with TA in the following ways:
7/14/17: Vera reviewed policies and practices pertaining to use of segregation in the MCF Shakopee women's prison with Warden Beltz and Mary McComb. Vera discussed difficulties related to only one women's facility in all of MDOC.
7/18/17: Vera reviewed and made suggestions/recommendations to step-down policy proposed by MDOC for persons leaving restrictive housing units.

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.

Vera worked with the DOC site coordinator to prepare for the Advisory Council Meeting of the Safe Alternatives to Segregation Initiative. During the days of the meeting, Vera had several conversations with the site coordinator to troubleshoot challenges in Oregon, discuss strategies for moving forward, and field specific questions related to culture change.