7/10/20 UPDATE FROM IDOC DIRECTOR
This message was received on July 10, 2020. It is provided as received and has not been edited.
Hi All-
Its been more than a week since our facilities in the south Boise area moved to secure status. I know this is a stressful time for everyone working and living in those facilities and Im sure it feels punitive, even though it is not intended to be. We appreciate your patience with the situation and your help in working to keep yourself and others safe. Please know this is a temporary situation, and every facility is working on plans that keep appropriate containment measures in place while allowing more movement.
Testing of the incarcerated population. This week, we conducted mass testing of everyone in B and C blocks at ISCC. We hope to have those results early next week, if not before. At ISCC, weve now tested B, C, E, G, and H blocks. We have A, D and F still to test. Statewide, we have tested over 1,500 people and found 618 negative, 18 positive with symptoms, and 137 positive and without any symptoms. Those numbers are really fluid, and with all the testing going on, they change often. But it gives you a sense of what the testing is showing.
Pre-release testing. We also started to test every person who is about to leave one of the facilities. Release procedures have changed slightly and depending on your test results, you will be given instruction on how best to keep yourself and others safe and IDOC will be providing additional supports like emergency food and hygiene items for people who are released and advised to limit their contact with others. Your case managers can provide more information on this. As a result of our pre-release testing, we have identified three individuals at SICI who tested positive but did not have any symptoms.
What you can do. These mass testing efforts show us how easily this virus can travel and how someone can have it and not know it. So, this is a friendly reminder to take every precaution you can to prevent the spread of the virus, which means wash your hands with soap frequently, wear a mask at all possible times, and dont share items like towels or utensils. Also, if you start to experience flu-like symptoms or have symptoms that suddenly get worse, please notify a staff member immediately.
What you can expect from us. Over the weekend and earlier this week, I received several ideas from some of your peers living in our facilities about actions IDOC could take to ease the stress and monotony of secure status, and we are already actively working on several of them, to include: 1) reopening limited recreation schedules which will allow the majority of folks in secure status to access the outdoors for walking 2) providing mobile library services so people can access books and 3) rolling out Sega Genesis gaming consoles the week of July 20th. These are just a few of the things were working on for you, and I want you to know were working as hard and as fast as we can.
We also have received a number of constructive suggestions, or complaints, if you will. Weve heard them loud and clear! We know how much pride our food service staff and the people working in our kitchens take in the quality of product theyre able to serve. Styrofoam containers arent ideal for getting food to the units, but its what we have right now. We have more hot food carts and trays on the way so we can rely less on the Styrofoam.
Ill have another update for you next week. In the meantime, I want to thank you again for your patience. Please take care of yourself and keep looking out for each other.
Thanks-
Josh
Hi All-
Its been more than a week since our facilities in the south Boise area moved to secure status. I know this is a stressful time for everyone working and living in those facilities and Im sure it feels punitive, even though it is not intended to be. We appreciate your patience with the situation and your help in working to keep yourself and others safe. Please know this is a temporary situation, and every facility is working on plans that keep appropriate containment measures in place while allowing more movement.
Testing of the incarcerated population. This week, we conducted mass testing of everyone in B and C blocks at ISCC. We hope to have those results early next week, if not before. At ISCC, weve now tested B, C, E, G, and H blocks. We have A, D and F still to test. Statewide, we have tested over 1,500 people and found 618 negative, 18 positive with symptoms, and 137 positive and without any symptoms. Those numbers are really fluid, and with all the testing going on, they change often. But it gives you a sense of what the testing is showing.
Pre-release testing. We also started to test every person who is about to leave one of the facilities. Release procedures have changed slightly and depending on your test results, you will be given instruction on how best to keep yourself and others safe and IDOC will be providing additional supports like emergency food and hygiene items for people who are released and advised to limit their contact with others. Your case managers can provide more information on this. As a result of our pre-release testing, we have identified three individuals at SICI who tested positive but did not have any symptoms.
What you can do. These mass testing efforts show us how easily this virus can travel and how someone can have it and not know it. So, this is a friendly reminder to take every precaution you can to prevent the spread of the virus, which means wash your hands with soap frequently, wear a mask at all possible times, and dont share items like towels or utensils. Also, if you start to experience flu-like symptoms or have symptoms that suddenly get worse, please notify a staff member immediately.
What you can expect from us. Over the weekend and earlier this week, I received several ideas from some of your peers living in our facilities about actions IDOC could take to ease the stress and monotony of secure status, and we are already actively working on several of them, to include: 1) reopening limited recreation schedules which will allow the majority of folks in secure status to access the outdoors for walking 2) providing mobile library services so people can access books and 3) rolling out Sega Genesis gaming consoles the week of July 20th. These are just a few of the things were working on for you, and I want you to know were working as hard and as fast as we can.
We also have received a number of constructive suggestions, or complaints, if you will. Weve heard them loud and clear! We know how much pride our food service staff and the people working in our kitchens take in the quality of product theyre able to serve. Styrofoam containers arent ideal for getting food to the units, but its what we have right now. We have more hot food carts and trays on the way so we can rely less on the Styrofoam.
Ill have another update for you next week. In the meantime, I want to thank you again for your patience. Please take care of yourself and keep looking out for each other.
Thanks-
Josh