KEEFE COMMMISSARY NETWORK VIOLATES CONTRACT WITH IDOC, CREATING SERIOUS SECURITY CONCERNS

Keefe Commissary Network (KCN), the vendor who holds the contract with the IDOC to exclusively provide commissary services to Idaho prisoners has and continues to violate a provision of that contract that has far-reaching security concerns to the department, prisoners and the public.

Section 17.2 of the contract addresses the packaging of items sold by KCN to prisoners. This section requires that KCN will ensure that all product packaging is "designed for safety and security in a correctional environment." To that end, the contract requires that KCN will "ensure that all packaging shall be clear, resealable or one-time use."

Over time, KCN has drifted away from the packaging requirements of this contract, and began selling items which do not meet the minimum security needs of a correctional facility. In that IDOC administrators have done nothing to resolve these blatant and serious violations of security and/or health protocols by allowing these dangerous practices to continue, they're either unconcerned, or unaware of the problems.

Here is a very abbreviated list of just the food items sold by KCN to Idaho prisoners that violate the contract section by being sold in packaging that is not resealable (more than 1 serving per package), in packaging that is not clear, or both:

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Marias Cookies
Double Stuffed Cookies
Vanilla Creme Cookies
Strawberry Creme Cookies
Duplex Creme Cookies
Vanilla Wafers
Iced Oatmeal Cookies
Ziti Noodles
Thai Noodles
Pickles (6502/6500)
Black Beans
Fish (6189/6190/6826/6178)
Beef Barbacoa
Sausage (3561/3585/3584)
Crackers (3114/3112)
Bar Cheese (8321/8337)
Chicken breast
Gummy bears
Ramen (All Flavors)
Chili (6172/6174)
Honey Buns
Pork Rinds
Jalapeño Pretzels
Jalapeño Chips
Dry Milk
Oatmeal (6535/6534/3344)
Bagel Chips
Ruffles Potato Chips
Hot Chips
Moon Lodge Chips (6102)
Doritos (6151/6204)
Cheetos (6167)
Fritos
Nuts (6212/6241/6606/6607)
Crumb Cake
City Cow Cheese (8321/8337)
Coffee Creamer (5559)

Now that administrators are aware of this situation
(a person who knows, or in exercise of due care should know is considered to have knowledge), one needs simply to sit back and watch to see if IDOC administrators actually take the contract they have with the public to provide safe and secure prisons seriously, or if they'll just let KCN walk all over them in their corporate march to profits over concerns for staff, prisoner and civilian safety.

If you have questions on this issue, you can contact the IDOC Central Office 1299 N. Orchard St., Suite 110 Boise, ID 83706, or by phone at (208) 658-2000. You can email the IDOC Commissary Contract Manager Rusty McNeill directly at rmcneill@idoc.idaho.gov.

Keefe Commissary Network's (Idaho Office) can be reached at 13400 Pleasant Valley Rd. Kuna, ID 83634 (866) 292-7779 / (Fax) (208) 345-0349.

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