PRISONER BEATING AT THE ISCC FORETOLD, PRISON STAFF KNEW IT WAS COMING YET REFUSED TO INTERVENE

In an article posted to this site on January 18, 2024 titled CASE STUDY OF A PRISON BEATING - AN INVESTIGATION OF SYSTEMIC FAILURE OF PRISON OFFICIALS TO PREVENT INJURY OR DEATH OF A MENTALLY ILL PRISONER, it was foretold that an inmate referred to as "Bubba" was at significant risk of being beaten by other prisoners because of his actions related to what seems to be mental illness. Despite several staff of various rank and responsibilities knowing of the issues, nothing was done to remedy, or at least remediate the problem.

In response to that post, a media personality in the Boise, Idaho area wrote to me, wondering why Bubba had not been placed in a secure mental facility. I wrote back on January 23, 2024, stating that the Idaho Department of Correction is REACTIVE as opposed to being PROACTIVE, and giving examples of a few situations illustrating this point. That email [see below *] to the media however was censored (prohibited from leaving the facility) by IDOC staff for nearly a month, despite official requests and a grievance to release it.

What was not stopped however was the beating of Bubba by two other prisoners on February 13, 2004.

That Tuesday morning, Bubba - continuing in his ways as described in both the article and the email - was standing on a chair in the dayroom, screaming at and beating on the large screen television with his fist while a guard, doing his rounds within feet of the disturbance, simply ignored what was going on, and failed to address the disturbance.

Seemingly unable to completely vent frustrations despite damaging the state-owned television, Bubba then threw a plastic tumbler full of hot coffee at the TV. By then, two other prisoners had approached him and told him to calm down. According to witnesses, Bubba took exception, and moved to attack one of the prisoners... and it was on.

Bubba was thrown to the ground and pummeled a bit, but it could have been much, much worse for him had the other prisoners intended to hurt him more than they did. Indeed, Bubba got off lucky, very lucky, though the beating probably should have been worse (as bad as that sounds) so Bubba might have realized how much pain his actions could bring him in the future.

Getting off with an easy beating may have been the worst thing that could have happened to Bubba, because it is unlikely he has learned anything, especially since staff refused to step in or even address his behavior until he was on the ground being beaten.

Indeed, this is the third time (that I know of) Bubba has been in physical altercations over a dayroom television within a year or so. This does not include instances where he has almost come to blows and has thrown liquids on with other prisoners over the same thing.

The IDOC has places to house prisoners exhibiting mental or emotional problems, but when unit or floor staff refuse even to refer prisoners like Bubba for psychological evaluation, nothing is done. On the other hand, any behavioral problems of dogs housed at the ISCC via the EPIC program are documented, addressed and reported immediately, medications are issued, and the animal is kept under intense observation and scrutiny. Maybe human prisoners should be treated at least half as well as the dogs.

Oh, and Bubba will satisfy his sentence in less than 2 years, so he will be OUT THERE - and an unsuspecting society will have to deal with him then. Good Luck.


* SUBJECT: Reactive v. Proactive IDOC

Hello Mike and Chris

Thank you for having me on the air again. Your screener was very welcoming.

The caller on the air immediately after I was on (who identified himself as a former correctional lieutenant) must have worked in a different state, as Idaho prisons don't have law libraries. He was correct though in saying (though in different tone) that I am pretty well versed in the law (I imagine he deduced that from our conversation).

The answer to your question in your last email to me about why 'Bubba' hasn't been placed in a secure mental facility is easily answered. The Idaho Dept. of Correction is REACTIVE, not PROACTIVE when it comes to most issues, and this is just par for the course. Other prisoners, even as of today, are giving him food that has been adulterated with any number of potentially poisonous and/or outright nasty things. He eats it and is often physically ill for days, but it keeps happening.

The IDOC turns a blind eye to most situations until they can react rather than preventing it. For example they know where the drugs are, but they wait until prisoners consume them, then perform urine testing (at significant expense) to determine who has been taking them. The issue with 'Bubba' is a wonderful example.

I've witnessed instances where officers have literally watched situations develop that clearly were going to end up with fights/assaults, but they stood by and watched until the assault occurred. Some officers justify their actions (or failure to act) by stating that they need some 'excitement' to break the monotony of their jobs.

Thank you again for your program, and I hope to communicate with you more in the future. As always, if there is anything I can answer for you, please let me know.

Dale Shackelford
idahoprisonblog.org
_________

News and opinions about the inside, from the inside. Subscribe now - it's FREE! If you'd like to be emailed a link to new postings on this site, send an email to daleshackelford1@gmail.com with the Subject: Keep Me in the Loop!

We don't sell or share our subscriber data with anyone, and all articles may be reprinted and shared without further permission (just tell 'em where you saw it!)