Idaho Prison Blog

Now that things have "opened up" a bit at the ISCC and the weather a bit warmer, there seem to be more Dark Days and Dark Nights at the ISCC. (For those who haven't yet read Dark Days, Dark Nights ISCC's Pretextual Lockdowns, Part I on this site, going "dark" means that there are not enough guards so prisoners are simply locked in their cells.) It's unclear the normal contingent of staff necessary to safely manage the ISCC at any specific time before going dark becomes necessary, so let's just call it 150 for sake of discussion. If a couple of those 150 call in sick, then what are the other guards doing while half the inmates are locked down and they're not needed to supervise prisoners? Maybe they're looking in on a "Call of Duty" video game mission on the case manager's computer? Catching up on the latest YouTube videos or working on their personal online classes? Whatever they're doing, they still get paid tax dollars to ...

On April 12, 2022, IDOC prisoners received 2 emails from Keefe Commissary. The first of the emails (reprinted below as received) indicates there will be a considerable increase in commissary prices beginning May 1, 2022. The second (reformatted and edited as it is virtually unreadable in the form received) details commissary items which will be deleted from, and added to the commissary list, also beginning 5/1/22. I have also added comments in brackets [ ]. The IDOC contract for vendors providing Commissary services to Idaho prisoners (awarded to Keefe Commissary Network [KCN] in 2001 and continues through present) allows KCN the sole right to sell commissary items to the inmate population, and to price items sold to prisoners at the same or slightly higher price of comparable items purchased at a convenience store. Additionally, the IDOC charges a 25% surcharge on most every purchase (except franked envelopes and certain religious items). Add on the 6% state sales tax to all purchases...

Have a little space on your website, blog, Facebook page or other social media platform? Why not put a link to this site ( idahoprisonblog.org ) on yours and help others find links, news and other information which may be useful for family and friends of Idaho prisoners? If you have any suggestions for links/articles for this page, or have any questions, suggestions or information, drop me an email ( daleshackelford1@gmail.com ) and let me know. You can also sign up to email me directly by signing up on JPay.com. Oh, and if you want to be emailed a link to any new articles posted on this site, just email me with the Subject: "Keep me in the Loop". We'll do just that. Dale

In a memo posted in housing units on March 30, 2022, prisoners were advised that in-person visiting will again be allowed at the Idaho Correctional Center. NOTE: This information pertains to the ISCC only. For information on visiting at any other facility, check the IDOC website (see links on left) or contact the visiting sergeant at the facility where your friend/loved one is incarcerated. The document states that if you have been an approved visitor in the past but are not current,* you can use the online renewal process at: idoc.gov/content/prisons/visiting/application. Visits must be pre-approved, registered and scheduled beforehand by visiting www.icsolutions.com Here is some other information from the posted document: > Visitors DO NOT need to be vaccinated. > Temperatures will be checked when entering facility (if you're sick - even if it is a cold - don't come). > Minors are allowed to visit** (will take preference). - No play area will be available Children mu...

Sometime around April, 2020 the ISCC (as well as most of the IDOC) started restricting prisoner movement due to Covid-19 [except for the 'privileged' prisoners who - throughout the entire pandemic - were, and are still allowed to have the run of the place and do whatever they want to do]. Recreation, education and [so-called] rehabilitative programs and general movement throughout the facility were all either cancelled, or severely curtailed. On March 28, 2022, many of these restrictions are scheduled to relax, and the institution is to head back to normal - whatever that is. There are certain to be several problems with going back to normal operations, not the least of which has to do with staffing. If indeed there are enough staff to cover the facility, many officers (including National Guardsmen and Women) are new either to the ISCC, or corrections altogether, having been hired and assigned to their new posts during the lockdowns and will have no idea how the place REALLY op...