NEW ISCC WARDEN ORDERS ISCC SHUT-DOWNS DUE TO HIGH COVID RISK (EXCUSE)

In a 12/2/21 memo, new ISCC Warden Randy Valley* has ordered that all recreation, rehabilitation programs, and education classes be cancelled immediately based on a (category Orange) COVID risk assessment on December 1, 2021 at the facility. Although not listed in the memo, this would seem to necessarily include a suspension of visiting as well. Anyone planning an in-person visit at the ISCC should contact the prison at (208) 331-2760 before making the trip.

While worried about cohorting (restricting people to specific groups which are not allowed to physically interact with other groups), facility administrators do not require staff to change gloves or other personal protection equipment (PPE) when moving between housing units and still allow privileged inmates to move about the prison, physically interact with untold numbers of staff and prisoners then return to cohorted housing areas.

Were this an actual emergency requiring cohorting, allowing prisoners to break the cohort - for any reason - would not happen, thus, either this shutdown is not warranted, or administrators are intentionally putting prisoners, staff and their families in unwarranted danger.

More on this as issues develop.

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* Warden Liz Neville was promoted to another position within the IDOC barely a month after taking the Warden job at the ISCC.