Return to Meeting Archives
Logo Created By VSPW Graphic Arts Program
"Thank You Ladies"
VALLEY STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN
INMATE FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Friday, April 2, 2010
Warden’s Conference Room
Logo Created By VSPW Graphic Arts Program
"Thank You Ladies"
VALLEY STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN
INMATE FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Friday, April 2, 2010
Warden’s Conference Room
MEMBERS PRESENT
Chairperson V. Abrunzo, Vice Chairperson V. Doran, E. Muniz, J. Walthall, R. Netherton, J. Garcia
GUESTS
none
EXCUSED ABSENCE
Secretary J. Erb, W. Benson, N. Rubinstein, D. Brown
STAFF PRESENT
CDW Gloria Colmenero, Community Partnership Manager P. Untalon, Cpt. J. Neeley, Sgt. E. Olson, C. Etchebehera, S. Neeley
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Abrunzo at 13:05.
I. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:
1. Approval of the Minutes prior to meeting with Staff.
2. Notice of Excused Absences of Jim erb & Deb Brown.
3. NEW IFC MEMBER: Royce Netherton was introduced and welcomed as the newest member of the IFC.
II. OLD BUSINESS:
1. VISITING APPOINTMENT PHONE (BACKLOG/CONGESTION): The IFC posed the possible use of email for making and confirming visiting appointments. Lt.A rrellano was to speak with other institutions who have initiated the system. It is unknow if the Lt. has completed her inquiries. If recommended the Warden will need to approve the implementation of the system. As Warden Hornbeak was not available for the meeting, CDW Colmenero continued the matter of Visiting Appointments by e-mail.
2. VISITING FOOD VENDOR: Staff acknowledged little if any input into the Vendor issues and agreed that we could proceed to the headquarters and Dept. of Rehab.& Madera County Environemntal Health for further action. A letter from Sacramento was provided to the administration in regards to the new vendor and the sudden removal of Pioneer Kitchen #2. A copy of the contract has been requested however no response has been received. K. Etchebehere has requested that all complaints be in writing to DOR and a copy to her here at VSPW for the records. IFC will post a notice on the website regarding complaints and the address to send them to. It was also noted that no Health Certificate has been posted by the Vendor. The IFC will contact the Environmental Health Department as well regarding complaints of food stale dated and moldy. For those who want to add to the list of complaints, we hope you will refer to the end of these minutes for names and addresses also provided on the website at www.vspw-ifc.com .
3. BUDGET RELATED TERMINATIONS/EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: P. Untalon stated that there will be no volunteers to replace teachers, the institution is waiting on funds to replace special education programs such as ILTAG (Inmate Leisure Time Activity Groups) programs. To have a sponsorship program come into the facility they must be registered with goals and a mission statement, they can be run by inmates but under supervision (ie NA, AA etc). As for secondary education the institution can not use volunteers, as they can not act as proctors. Mr. Thatcher is the only person approved at this time. A mentorship program is currently operating at this time to certify drug counselors. If there is an organization that would like to form a post ed/vocational program they can contact P. Untalon for by-laws.
NEW BUSINESS
1. NEW MEDICAL CHRONO FOR CLASSIFICATION PURPOSES: Ms. Neeley explained that that for medical and custodial needs a new medical chrono for classification will be put into use. The new procedure will help staff recognize medical needs with out releasing personal medical information. This form will also be used and placed in the C file if medical needs change after initial screening. Officers will be better able to ensure needs are met and bed management will be incompliance. This will also help eliminate outdated medical chronos.
2. GET ON THE BUS PROGRAM FOR 2010: Everything is coming together smoothly. Cpt Neeley will speak with visiting staff regarding decorations and notify V. Doran of needs.
3. VISITING PROCESSING AREA -- IFC BULLETIN BOARD: It was brought to staff’s attention that the minutes are not being posted in the bulletin board. Cpt Neeley is unsure if the new Lt was notify that this was her responsibility. Cpt requested that he be included on the email sending the approved minutes, he will take it upon himself to speak with visiting staff regarding posting minutes.
4. VISITING POSTERS FOR ALLOWED CLOTHING: The IFC questioned why the new “posters” for banned colors for visitors was not displayed in the processing center. Staff was not aware they were posted in the actual visiting area. The posters will be moved. It was also asked if the institituion was going to seek approval for additional colors to add to the poster. The IFC brought to the attention of the staff that there is inconsistency in the processing center regarding colors, type of shoes, etc. Cpt Neeley stated that people tend to apply their own logic on colors and that he will give additional training to the staff. Visitors should be aware that a supervisor, (ie. Sergeant, then Lieutenant) should always make the final call on any questionable issues.
5. MAIL: The new Mailroom Officer, Sgt Olson stated that the mail room was running 6 to 7 days for delivery, would like to do better, and has initiated faster processing. Is running day to day at this time. Some of the issues the mail room faces is legibility, address not proper (missing housing or CDC #). The mail room attempts to decipher or locate the inmate but if not, the mail is returned to sender. IFC will post warning on website regarding how to address letter and legibility.
6. TRACS (Trust, Restitution and Canteen System): (TRACS is a computer system purchased by CDCR in 2008/2009. TRACS should not be confused with CDCR's new Business Integrated System -- "BIS" or "SAP") IFC questioned why there is a delay in posting to the inmates account and what checks and balances are in place to determine that someone doesn’t get inadvertently missed. Staff explained that posting from JPay etc is within a day and that a cross check is run every day for balances. That the only hold issued on funds comes from personal checks that are sent to the institution and that the hold is three weeks before the funds are available to the inmate. IFC asked about the costs of the software being excessive, staff explained that in that figure was the costs to send staff to Sacramento for training on the system and that this was a statewide training.
7. INMATE WELFARE FUND: Mr. Abrunzo requested a copy of the quarterly reports again under the California Public Information Act. ADW Colmenero asked if the request need be in writing. The IFC requests that the minutes of this meeting be considered formal request for timely copies of the reports. CDW Colmenero said the matter would be taken to the Warden for a decision.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 14:30
Next meeting scheduled June 4, 2010.
Chairperson V. Abrunzo, Vice Chairperson V. Doran, E. Muniz, J. Walthall, R. Netherton, J. Garcia
GUESTS
none
EXCUSED ABSENCE
Secretary J. Erb, W. Benson, N. Rubinstein, D. Brown
STAFF PRESENT
CDW Gloria Colmenero, Community Partnership Manager P. Untalon, Cpt. J. Neeley, Sgt. E. Olson, C. Etchebehera, S. Neeley
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Abrunzo at 13:05.
I. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS:
1. Approval of the Minutes prior to meeting with Staff.
2. Notice of Excused Absences of Jim erb & Deb Brown.
3. NEW IFC MEMBER: Royce Netherton was introduced and welcomed as the newest member of the IFC.
II. OLD BUSINESS:
1. VISITING APPOINTMENT PHONE (BACKLOG/CONGESTION): The IFC posed the possible use of email for making and confirming visiting appointments. Lt.A rrellano was to speak with other institutions who have initiated the system. It is unknow if the Lt. has completed her inquiries. If recommended the Warden will need to approve the implementation of the system. As Warden Hornbeak was not available for the meeting, CDW Colmenero continued the matter of Visiting Appointments by e-mail.
2. VISITING FOOD VENDOR: Staff acknowledged little if any input into the Vendor issues and agreed that we could proceed to the headquarters and Dept. of Rehab.& Madera County Environemntal Health for further action. A letter from Sacramento was provided to the administration in regards to the new vendor and the sudden removal of Pioneer Kitchen #2. A copy of the contract has been requested however no response has been received. K. Etchebehere has requested that all complaints be in writing to DOR and a copy to her here at VSPW for the records. IFC will post a notice on the website regarding complaints and the address to send them to. It was also noted that no Health Certificate has been posted by the Vendor. The IFC will contact the Environmental Health Department as well regarding complaints of food stale dated and moldy. For those who want to add to the list of complaints, we hope you will refer to the end of these minutes for names and addresses also provided on the website at www.vspw-ifc.com .
3. BUDGET RELATED TERMINATIONS/EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: P. Untalon stated that there will be no volunteers to replace teachers, the institution is waiting on funds to replace special education programs such as ILTAG (Inmate Leisure Time Activity Groups) programs. To have a sponsorship program come into the facility they must be registered with goals and a mission statement, they can be run by inmates but under supervision (ie NA, AA etc). As for secondary education the institution can not use volunteers, as they can not act as proctors. Mr. Thatcher is the only person approved at this time. A mentorship program is currently operating at this time to certify drug counselors. If there is an organization that would like to form a post ed/vocational program they can contact P. Untalon for by-laws.
NEW BUSINESS
1. NEW MEDICAL CHRONO FOR CLASSIFICATION PURPOSES: Ms. Neeley explained that that for medical and custodial needs a new medical chrono for classification will be put into use. The new procedure will help staff recognize medical needs with out releasing personal medical information. This form will also be used and placed in the C file if medical needs change after initial screening. Officers will be better able to ensure needs are met and bed management will be incompliance. This will also help eliminate outdated medical chronos.
2. GET ON THE BUS PROGRAM FOR 2010: Everything is coming together smoothly. Cpt Neeley will speak with visiting staff regarding decorations and notify V. Doran of needs.
3. VISITING PROCESSING AREA -- IFC BULLETIN BOARD: It was brought to staff’s attention that the minutes are not being posted in the bulletin board. Cpt Neeley is unsure if the new Lt was notify that this was her responsibility. Cpt requested that he be included on the email sending the approved minutes, he will take it upon himself to speak with visiting staff regarding posting minutes.
4. VISITING POSTERS FOR ALLOWED CLOTHING: The IFC questioned why the new “posters” for banned colors for visitors was not displayed in the processing center. Staff was not aware they were posted in the actual visiting area. The posters will be moved. It was also asked if the institituion was going to seek approval for additional colors to add to the poster. The IFC brought to the attention of the staff that there is inconsistency in the processing center regarding colors, type of shoes, etc. Cpt Neeley stated that people tend to apply their own logic on colors and that he will give additional training to the staff. Visitors should be aware that a supervisor, (ie. Sergeant, then Lieutenant) should always make the final call on any questionable issues.
5. MAIL: The new Mailroom Officer, Sgt Olson stated that the mail room was running 6 to 7 days for delivery, would like to do better, and has initiated faster processing. Is running day to day at this time. Some of the issues the mail room faces is legibility, address not proper (missing housing or CDC #). The mail room attempts to decipher or locate the inmate but if not, the mail is returned to sender. IFC will post warning on website regarding how to address letter and legibility.
6. TRACS (Trust, Restitution and Canteen System): (TRACS is a computer system purchased by CDCR in 2008/2009. TRACS should not be confused with CDCR's new Business Integrated System -- "BIS" or "SAP") IFC questioned why there is a delay in posting to the inmates account and what checks and balances are in place to determine that someone doesn’t get inadvertently missed. Staff explained that posting from JPay etc is within a day and that a cross check is run every day for balances. That the only hold issued on funds comes from personal checks that are sent to the institution and that the hold is three weeks before the funds are available to the inmate. IFC asked about the costs of the software being excessive, staff explained that in that figure was the costs to send staff to Sacramento for training on the system and that this was a statewide training.
7. INMATE WELFARE FUND: Mr. Abrunzo requested a copy of the quarterly reports again under the California Public Information Act. ADW Colmenero asked if the request need be in writing. The IFC requests that the minutes of this meeting be considered formal request for timely copies of the reports. CDW Colmenero said the matter would be taken to the Warden for a decision.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 14:30
Next meeting scheduled June 4, 2010.
