Starting today, the letters, cards and photos mailed to inmates in Iowa prisons will be digitized by a company in Las Vegas and later destroyed. Iowa Department of Corrections spokesman Nick Crawford said the mail will be scanned, printed in color and just the copies will be sent to each prison … [Read more...]
GOP budget plan has $7 million increase for state prisons
Republican legislators have sent the governor a budget plan for the Iowa's justice system and it includes a $7 million spending increase for the state's prisons. Democrats like Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City say the murders of two Anamosa prison employees by two inmates attempting … [Read more...]
With 300+ job openings, state prison officials seek new recruiting paths
State officials plan to set up a booth at the Iowa State Fair to recruit people to work in Iowa's prison system. Iowa Department of Corrections director Beth Skinner recently hired a recruitment and retention officer for the prison system. "We're trying to be creative. We're trying to get out … [Read more...]
A $14 million gap between House and Senate Republicans on prison spending
Senate Republicans are proposing a more than $6 million increase in next year's budget for the Iowa Department of Corrections, but that is $14 million dollars below the recommendation from Republicans in the House. Danny Homan, president of the union that represents employees in the state prison … [Read more...]
Prison officials dispute OSHA citations at Anamosa State Penitentiary
State prison officials are disputing an OSHA report that cited deficiencies in the radio communications system for staff at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. The report from the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration was issued eight months before a correctional officer and a nurse were … [Read more...]
OSHA report found faults in Anamosa prison’s communications system
Safety inspectors discovered the radio system employees inside the Anamosa State Penitentiary used to communicate was malfunctioning more than a year before the inmate attacks that killed two Anamosa employees. KCRG TV was first to obtain the report Iowa's Occupational Safety and Health … [Read more...]
Governor says there’ll be an independent investigation of Anamosa prison murders
A new security director will be installed in the Iowa Department of Corrections in response to the March 23 attack by two inmates at the Anamosa State Penitentiary that killed two staff members. In addition to the internal investigation underway, Governor Kim Reynolds said an external investigation … [Read more...]
House GOP plans $20 million more for prisons, union leader says it’s not enough
House Republicans are proposing a $20 million increase in the budget for the Iowa Department of Corrections. The president of the union that represents prison employees says it's not enough to ensure staffing levels inside the state's prison system are adequate. Representative Gary Worthan of … [Read more...]
AFSCME leader asks legislators to investigate causes of Anamosa prison murders
The president of the union representing employees in Iowa's correctional system says violence inside the prisons has become commonplace, due to depleted staffing. In a letter to legislative leaders, AFSCME Council 61 president Danny Homan said since a nurse and a correctional officer were … [Read more...]
Iowa Legislature to suspend action as a COVID-19 precaution
The 2020 Iowa legislative session will be suspended for at least 30 days due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Leaders of the Iowa House and Senate made the announcement late this afternoon. According to a news release, the decision was made to protect older people and those with underlying health … [Read more...]