Prison Gangs

Vera provided TTA to the Nevada DOC (NDOC) in the following ways:

Vera provided implementation TTA to the Virginia DOC (VADOC) in the following ways:

January -
Vera exchanged emails with VADOC which lead to finalizing the contacting agreement between VADOC and Vera. Vera worked with the DOC site lead to post the site description on Vera's online SAS Initiative resource website

Vera provided implementation TTA to the Utah DOC in the following ways:

January -
Vera held its first introductory phone call with Utah DOC (UDC) leadership including DOC lead Jerry Pope. The purpose of call was to provide an overview of the project, review the project timeline, and to schedule and go over preparation details for initial project site visit including kickoff meeting and facility visits.

During the first quarter of the year, most of the TTA provided to the Minnesota DOC was over the phone. Vera conducted monthly calls discussing current DOC committees, types of restricted housing, schedule of penalties, preparing for the upcoming site visit, etc. Vera also provided TTA via email regarding language around the segregation reduction committee to the DOC.

From January through April, Vera reviewed and consulted on Louisiana Department of Corrections (LADOC) data plans and policies; consulted on the housing pilot at the Elayne Hunt Correctional Center; and conducted the first site visit in March that included meetings with leadership and tours of two maximum security facilities. At the invitation of the LADOC, Vera also attended the ACA audit of one of its maximum security facilities in April.

January TTA activities included:
- Email exchange - Vera shared a template/example document with reform outcome measures that we suggested they think about tracking.
- In preparation for our phone call, Vera sent a template/example implementation plan, showing how the recommendations from our report could be grouped into "buckets" and then put into an implementation plan.

January TTA activities included email exchanges between NDOC and Vera about the contract for the SAS Initiative; getting a brief description of NDOC to go on the Safe Alternatives to Segregation website's "About Us" page; the upcoming Board of Prison Commissioners meeting in March; and setting up the first Vera-NDOC meeting via phone.

Vera will conduct an assessment of the agency's use of segregation, recommend strategies to reduce the use, and provide techinical assistance with implementation.

The Safe Alternatives to Segregation Initiative

Vera will conduct an assessment of the agency's use of segregation, recommend strategies to reduce the use, and provide techinical assistance with implementation.