DEAR MRS. S: AN ANSWER TO YOUR EMAIL

Thank you for your questions on how you might advocate for your husband and other prisoners held in the Idaho Department of Correction, and where to report matters that might be associated with that advocacy. In that I have had similar questions in the past from others, I'll set this out in the form of a post to my site so that others might be able to benefit.

First, subscribing to my site is a great start. If you're using a computer, there are several links to various resources (for some reason we haven't been able to resolve the fact that the links aren't visible on phones yet).

One of the links on my page is to the IDOC's Public Record portal. This portal allows the public to request records from the Department, subject to exemptions as described in Idaho Code Title 74 - the Idaho Public Records Act. You'll have to sign up on their site, but it doesn't cost anything to do so. Take a look at Idaho Code 74-102 and 74-103 to see how to make the requests, and the timelines for responses. (Remember, I'm not an attorney, so I cannot give legal advice.) Prisoners may also request records by sending a Concern Form to the Custodian of Records at their facility.

Creating a website/page (and promoting it) to highlight issues can be useful. A site where people of like minds and goals can meet (virtually) to share ideas and information is powerful. One thing though is to be as fair and truthful as possible when reporting or describing issues, on your own site or someone else's because once your credibility is gone, people who matter won't pay attention.

You can also find other existing sites regarding advocacy for Idaho prisoners (I know there are some out there, but I suggest you look them up and check them out yourself before posting on them). You can join them, link to them and/or invite them to link to your site.

When writing articles or posting information, it's more HOW it's done than anything else. Getting [traditional] media to spotlight an issue, or getting the public to care is sometimes difficult.

Were I to write an article about how bad the food is (for example) most people on the outside would care less what prisoners are being fed. In fact some may believe prisoners should get nothing but bread and water... and little of that. Indeed, the public would likely applaud the savings. On the other hand, if I were to describe how the tax dollars paid by the public for this food are being wasted, stolen or squandered, and could have been used to feed their children, people will care, and questions will be asked.

In another approach, one thing that all government employees and elected officials hate is negative publicity. Shining a light on misconduct, violations of law/policy or shady crap will often create some movement - positive or negative - where nothing has been done in the past to resolve a problem. Sometimes results will be obvious, though a lot of the time things happen behind the scenes that you'll never know about.

Asking questions of the right person is also key. If I have a problem regarding missing property, I know to contact property staff, and not the medical department. I also try to find a secondary or back up means of resolving the matter like I did when over $90 worth of my hobby craft supplies came up missing (see my article FED EX PACKAGE DELIVERED TO IDAHO PRISON FACILITY SEEMINGLY 'PORCH PIRATED' WHILE IN STATE POSSESSION). I filed a Public Records Request and was able to determine who had that package, and how long she had it sitting in her office. It is my opinion that had I not done so, my supplies would have been given to one of the "preferred" prisoner organizations.

Also start at the bottom of the chain-of-command. This will usually save you time, effort and stomach lining, If you email the Director of IDOC about an issue at the ISCC, but haven't addressed the issue with ISCC staff, the Director's office will check with ISCC, then likely refer you to them. This might take days or weeks. (As you develop a relationship with administrators over time, you may find a sympathetic ear at a higher level that you can use as a primary contact.)

If, on the other hand, you inform the Director's office of who you have contacted about a specific issue, and attach copies of your email threads with those staff, the issue would be better understood by downtown, and the positions of subordinate staff would be clear. If you speak to a person by phone or in person, always follow up the conversation with an email, describing the conversation. (You can find the email addresses and telephone numbers of all Idaho state employees in the links on my page.)

When describing an issue to administrators, be sure to be clear and concise: What is the problem? In most cases, long explanations are unnecessary and work against your cause. Keep the prisoner's name, number and current housing assignment at hand, and be ready to answer questions clearly and state facts as you know them to be true.

If you decide to rebut a lower administrator's decision, cite as many official documents, reports or statements as you can. Check the IDOC's publicly available Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) on their site at www.idoc.idaho.gov, IDOC press releases, Board of Corrections meeting minutes, and Rules of the Board of Corrections in the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act. Use their rules and their statements to your advantage.

You may not get what you want, but hang in there. Being there for your loved ones is most important, and even something as easy as a phone call to a facility lets staff know that there is someone out there watching.

Be well all!

Dale