12/31/20 UPDATE FROM IDOC DIRECTOR

Hello All-

What a year 2020 has been. Im not going to dwell on all the challenges we faced this year we experienced it and honestly, going through it once was more than enough. But, I want to take a moment to give thanks and maybe even offer a bit of hope for what lies ahead in 2021.

First of all, the pandemic required everyone to behave in new ways and I express my deep appreciation to those of you who jumped into action to make more than 55,000 masks to help keep everyone at IDOC safe. You produced enough masks that we were able to donate thousands to local community agencies too. We also had people stepping up to learn how to use new sanitizing foggers and take on additional cleaning duties. Everyone rolled with the punches, including moves that allowed us to create dedicated housing units to better manage the pandemic. I know its been especially hard to have movement in the facilities limited and to not have in-person visitation, and I thank you for cooperation. Were currently working with the state epidemiologists to plan for the COVID-19 vaccine to rollout in the first quarter of 2021.

While COVID-19 has taken front and center, I assure you, a lot of activity has been going on behind the scenes, which will move us forward by leaps and bounds in 2021. This year, IDOC committed to a new vision for our agency that aims to create a safer Idaho while having fewer people in its correctional system. Why am I telling you this? Because it means we see our job as helping each of you learn the skills you will need to be successful when you leave our jurisdiction. We are all safer when more people are living crime-free in the community. To help meet this goal, we have invested in infrastructure to bring wifi and tablets to each facility for resident education and programming. We have been working with Boise State University to create a degree-granting track for students (and the feds just reinstated Pell grants to help pay for college for people who are in prisons!). We have partnered with the Vera Institute and MILPA to participate in the Restoring Promise Initiative, which seeks to overhaul the correctional experience for young adults through the use of a peer community. We are currently assessing our practices for incarcerated women so that we can provide help and support that is more targeted to the unique needs of women. We have invested $4.5M in Connection and Intervention Stations in the community, which offer supportive services for people on supervision to help prevent revocation. This is just a sampling of what youll see rolling out in 2021. And, you have an important role to play in all of this its imperative that you tell us whats working, whats not hitting the mark, and how we can continue to improve (preferably in a constructive way). Well be rolling out more ways to involve you and your loved ones in these conversations in 2021.

Theres a lot more to come in 2021. In the meantime, I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Josh