Idaho Prison Blog

[Editor's Note: There was a follow up to this email received on 8/19/21 which was nearly identical and therefore is not included on this site.] Aventivs Original Hip-Hop Track Contest Do you enjoy writing? Is music a passion of yours? Are you interested in the potential opportunity to collaborate with Grammy award-winning rapper, Lecrae? If any of these ideas are appealing to you, then Aventivs new Original Hip-Hop Track Contest is something for you to consider! The campaign is an opportunity for incarcerated individuals who are interested in music to submit original hip-hop lyrics to one of three hip-hop beats that have been provided for the campaign from Record Producer, Zaytoven. The winning hip-hop lyrics will be produced into a song in partnership with Grammy Award winning artist, Lecrae, and will be available for free to all correctional facilities that have access to the Media Store from JPay and Securus Technologies! This is a voluntary contest. All submissions will be asse

  MESSAGE SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTRAINTS To: IDOC POPULATION From: J Tyler, Dietary Manager Date: 08/13/2021 Re: Ongoing supply chain constraints As you may have already heard in the news: due to pandemic shutdowns, droughts, labor shortages, shipping port congestion, and a backlog of trucking schedules, the manufacturing and delivery of goods has been greatly slowed. All of these factors come at a time when stimulus money has increased consumer demand for goods, so the overall demand is greater than the supply, and the US is playing catch up with the supply chain. What this means for IDOC is that although there is enough food and other consumables available, there isnt always the full quantity of specific items available to us, or deliveries of certain goods are being delayed. As we work through this situation (which is expected to last at least through the end of the year), you may see menu substitutions at your facility. We will do our best to communicate menu changes in advance, but we a

8/9/21 Dear JPay Customer, We wanted to let you know that our Development Team is making updates to the virtual Amelia customer service offering available on the kiosk. During this process, you will see two Amelia buttons one will take you to an informational screen about the service and the other will direct you to the Amelia virtual agent for help as you normally use the service. Once the updates are finished it will revert back to just one Amelia button. Best, Your JPay Team //// MESSAGE FROM KEEFE TO: RESIDENT POPULATION FROM: KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK DATE: 8-9-2021 To whom it may concern, Keefe has started to partner with SWBCC and has moved away from SICI female workforce. Keefe will be experiencing challenges in the production of commissary orders while we train the SWBCC workforce. Please be patient because some of our deliveries may be later than normal. Keefe will update facilities as situations change. Thank you, Keefe Commissary ///// 8/6/21 Dear JPay Customer, We wanted to

MESSAGE FROM KEEFE - VENDOR CHANGE TO: RESIDENT POPULATION FROM: KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK DATE: 7-26-2021 To whom it may concern, Keefe had to change vendors for Vitamin B. The vitamin has a smaller count of 60 each. The item number will remain the same 0565 for a price of $3.45. Thank you for your patience while we sourced a new vendor. This price increase will be effective on 8-2-21. Thank you, Keefe Commissary. PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE IDAHO STATE SALES TAX. //// MESSAGE FROM IDOC MAIL ROOM Memo Date: July 21, 2021 To: Offender Population From:Mail room Re: USPS Rate Increases USPS will be increasing the following rates effective August 29, 2021. First Class Mail Letter Rates - as of August 29, 2021 INCREASE PER LETTER - Jan 2021 Rates vs. Aug 2021 Rates Mailpiece / Weight / Jan 2021 / Aug 2021 / Increase Letters - 1 oz. $0.55 $0.58. $0.03 Letters - Additional Ounces $0.20 $0.20 No Change Metered Mail Letters (Stamps.com Rate) - 1 oz. $0.51 $0.53 $0.02 Metered Mail Letters (Stamps.com

IDOC says they have a problem - they are losing more guards than they are hiring. Additionally, with the upturn of the economy under former President Trump, and employers such as Amazon moving into the Boise and surrounding areas starting new hires at wages significantly higher than the $15.00 an hour paid to the newest guards, many are jumping ship to work in the private sector. Fact is, anyone who is now working for the prison system WANTS to work for the system - there are too many other higher paying jobs, with fewer hours and better working conditions. That said, working as a prison guard or other staff position at the IDOC can be a lucrative endeavor. Guards at the ISCC for example now work only 2 weeks per month - 3 days on, then 4 days off one week, then the next week, 4 days on, 3 days off with 12 hour shifts. This schedule saves hundreds of dollars a year in transportation costs to and from work compared to working 8 hour shifts 5 days a week as was the previous work schedule