Reducing the Use of Segregation

In June Vera continued to take part in conference calls with VADOC’s multiple workgroup and committee meetings including another convening of mental health committee meeting. Additionally, the Vera team facilitated the ongoing bi-weekly calls with our site lead, Tori Raiford and other designated staff to provide updates on VADOCs implementation progress. Most notably, this month VADOCs continued expansion of their Shared Allied Management (SAMs) which target intensive services to their population with mental health diagnosis (not rising to the level of SMI).

In June, Vera facilitated conference calls with UDC’s data research lead Julie Christianson to discuss the department’s ongoing development of performance metrics and reports, specifically the recently updated data for fourth quarter of 2017.

In May Vera participated via conference call in VADOCs mental health committee meeting. The meeting focused on our specific findings and recommendations around system wide mental health issues outside the purview of the new Diversion Units (SDTP). Additionally, the Vera team took part in scheduled bi-weekly calls with our site lead, Tori Raiford and other designated staff to provide updates on VADOCs implementation progress.

In May there were ongoing emails and phone calls with Jeremy Sharp (UDC's site lead) in preparation for two upcoming implementation meetings (Part I on May 11th and Part II on May 23rd) with the UDC implementation team via video conference. The meetings were in support of UDCs work-plan and were designed to help the implementation team identify key staff to lead specific reform goals, to assess the feasibility of implementing each of our recommendations, and to prioritize implementation tasks and activities accordingly.

In April, Vera exchanged emails clarifying notes and following up on the recent (March 29-30) implementation plan meeting and ongoing development of VADOCs work-plan. This work included the launch of three new work-groups to address three key areas of our proposed reforms: culture change, mental health, and other system-wide reforms.

In April, Utah's Executive Director Rollin Cook announced he was stepping down after five years in the position. As a result, there were multiple phone calls and email exchanges with Director Cook and UDC leadership to gauge and ensure the department's commitment to continue working with Vera on the implementation of our recommendations for reform.

In June, Vera returned to the Angola facility for a training on compassion given by a local teacher for the Department and external stakeholders. This training allowed for greater understanding, empathy, and collaboration between incarcerated people, prison officials, and external individuals who care about continuing the reforms already begun in the LADOC system regarding conditions of confinement. Vera also continued working on the memo for the Department on the transition program and will send shortly.

In May, Vera made its second implementation trip to Louisiana to focus on the upcoming disciplinary matrix pilot as well as to collect data on the transition dorm program at Elayne Hunt Correctional Center (Hunt). Vera met with the warden of Hunt, department management, and staff to learn about the disciplinary matrix recently created by the Department and to be piloted at Hunt by 6/1/18. Before the month ended, Vera sent the Department a memo with feedback and recommendations on how the Department can most effectively implement the matrix system-wide.

In June, Vera held hone calls with CO Duran to prepare for a conference call the following week and also to provide strategic support for reform efforts. There was a conference call with NDOC Deputy Director Harold Wickham and DD Kim Thomas regarding the current updates on implementation of reforms, and strategizing for next steps. Vera learned about plans for convening wardens and leadership together to work on reforms to the Behavior Modification Units at various facilities.

In June, there was frequent email communications between Vera and MNDOC throughout the month. Vera held its regular conference call with MNDOC to learn about site updates, progress, and to confirm and plan upcoming site visit. There was email communications to confirm meeting agendas, logistics, and strategies for site visit. Next, Vera emaileda draft version of findings and recommendations to MNDOC; Between, 6/25-6/27, Vera presented findings and recommendations to MNDOC leadership and staff. Vera facilitated the first implementation meeting and workshop.