Return to Minutes & Issues Page
Logo Created By VSPW Graphic Arts Program
"Thank You Ladies"
VALLEY STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN
INMATE FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Friday, August 4, 2006
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, August 4, 2006
Warden's Conference Room
MEMBERS / ALTERNATES PRESENT
Marvin Coolbaugh, Chair
Dr. John Videen, Co-Chair
Elizabeth M.
Tammy R.
MEMBERS / ALTERNATES ABSENT
Mark H.
Tammy R.
Sherrie G.
Helen V.
Regina T.
Louisa C.
Alexandria B.
Frank A.
William R.
Wanda P.
VISITORS
Gilbert and Kelly Olmos
STAFF PRESENT
Tina Hornbeck, Warden (A)
Frank Sanders, Administrative Assistant
Laquitta Peterson, Capt.
Dalinda Harman, Capt.
Bryan McCraw, Lt.
Gloria Moreno
Judy Tucker R.N.
Corryn Pierini
The meeting was called to order at 1:05 PM by Marvin Coolbaugh, IFC Chair. John Videen recorded minutes. Introductions were made around the room.
Return to Top
Items Discussed:
1. Agenda Delays: Staff relayed Problems obtaining the agenda for today's meeting. Warden Hornbeck expressed the need to have the agenda items available for her and her staff to research prior to the meetings, so that informed comments and better discussion. Administrative Assistant (AA) Frank Sanders stated a minimum of seven days were required for these items to be properly prepared by staff. The Chairman took responsibility to see that the minutes will be sent to Mr.Sanders. The absence of outgoing Secretary Nancy Rubinstein of the Inmate Family Council (IFC) was cited as a problem and she will be missed.
Return to Top
2. Tour of Education Department: An update on plans for the upcoming tour of the Education Facilities and mailroom scheduled for the October IFC meeting was requested. No arrangements were made, but applications for the tour were to be sent to the Chairman who would then forward these to Mr. Sanders for processing.
Return to Top
3. Cleaning Supplies: Concern over adequate cleaning supplies in the infirmary was expressed. The Director of Nursing, Judy Tucker R.N., explained that a change in the "Brand" of the usual disinfectant was questioned regarding its efficacy against all microbial agents. The label did not specifically list activity against all desired pathogens. Rather than use this disinfectant, the infirmary began to use bleach at a 1:10 dilution for disinfectant purposes until an appropriate substitute was delivered.
Return to Top
4. Medical Release of Information Forms: The implementation of new Medical Release Forms was brought up. Correctional Health Services administrator Corryn Pierini noted that Health Information Service Technicians were recently briefed on the new forms and a special location in the inmates medical chart was identified for this form. The new form has not yet been implemented. The form expires in one year and must be renewed by the inmate. This can be done during any medical visit or by the inmate filing for a "Request for Interview" in Medical Records. This does not require a copay or 602. Nurse Tucker explained that inmates who become unexpectedly ill are offered the form by staff at the infirmary or by the Utilization Management Nurse at local hospitals. Nurse Tucker or staff will return all queries regarding ill inmates to family members whether of not a form is filled out.
Return to Top
5. IFC Minutes Distribution: Distribution of IFC minutes to WAC and prison units was discussed. The Warden is to investigate the process. Lt. McCraw and the Chairman will examine the placement of the minutes in the visiting rooms and Visitor Processing area.
Return to Top
6. Mail: Mail issues were discussed bt Lt. McCraw who has spent several days in the mailroom recently. Mail delivery is down to two to three days, and money orders are taking one business day. However, five trays of 200-300 letters each are in "No Housing Specified" or "Not on Roster" status. These letters must be individually processed to find a match to inmate housing units. The delay here for the average piece of mail is indeterminable. The Lieutenant encouraged family members to properly address envelopes and requested a prototype be included in the minutes. Approximately one of ten envelopes are estimated to be improperly addressed.
Return to Top
7. J-Pay: The J-Pay system was discussed and felt to be a timesaver. Money typically sent by money order can be sent online via jpay.com. Lt. McCraw stated the system is expected to cut down on the number of mail items and there is usually a three day turnover to get money to the inmate, much faster than the mail service. Warden Hornbeck pointed out that Jpay was not on the agenda and its use was not studied by her staff nor advocated. Having said that, no problems were known to staff present with the use of the system.
Return to Top
8. Morning Visiting Procedure: The morning visiting process procedures remain unchanged at present. Recent disruptive incidents in visiting have lead to a restudy of the present procedure of distributing numbers in the morning. Alternatives have not been brought to administration for review. In the meantime, numbers will be distributed at 6:00 AM on visiting days and vistors are asked to be civil and wait in their cars until then.
Return to Top
9. Friends Outside Trailer: Confusion regarding people waiting for visitors in the Friends Outside trailer was brought up. The Warden asked this to be tabled as this issue had not been discussed with her staff. In brief, it is queried where people who arrive with vistors but are not themselves visiting, are to wait.
Return to Top
10. Vendor Catalogs: Vendor catalogs are now available for review in the Visiting rooms and are handled by the Visiting Porters.
Return to Top
11. IFC Training: Chairman Coolbaugh related his recent experiences with an IFC Training COurse he attended and stated he would make the manual available to VSPW Staff and IFC members. Nancy Rubinstein also has contact and training information available.
12. Friday Visiting: The return of Friday visiting was discussed and identified as a possibility. Three other institutions have reinstituted Friday visits. Captain Dalina Harman stated that VSPW is not slated to do so. The staff is looking into allowing the "GET ON THE BUS" program on Fridays, but details are not presently available.
13. Rodent Contamination: Rodent contamination of canteen products was brought up and the staff will research this item. Vector control for the prison is contracted through an outside company.
14. Stingers: The IFC wished to bring the issue of Stinger access to the staff. Inmate concerns of the future availability of heating elements, or "Stingers", was addressed. The staff is unaware if they will be on the new property matrix. Staff was informed that inmates have complained that the present "Hot Pots" available do not get hot enough to boi water and would be an inadequate substitute.
Return to Top
15. Heat Wave Procedures: The Institutions' response to the heatwave was reviewed. Conference calls between Wardens and various institutions and Sacramento were referenced. The Staff brought in ice, coolers and water to the units when ambient temperatures reached certain temperatures. Ice ran out and was purchased at locals stores until they also ran out. Hotter units were identified and malfunctioning coolers were repaired. The Warden authorized partial covering of west facing windows. In some instances, maintenance soaked the outside of the building in an attempt to cool housing units. Fans were placed in Ad Seg and the SHU. Fans were ordered for the dayrooms for units. The Warden related that requests were made by energy regulators for the prison to cut down on energy use but the prison declined due to the urgency of the situation. Nurse Tucker stated that no cases heat exhaustion or heat stroke required treatment in the infirmary. The Warden reported one death during this period, but is was not attributed to the heat.
16. Window Coverings: Proposals for more permanent window coverings to alleviate future heat emergencies were discussed and are being studied by staff.
The Meeting was adjourned at 14:30
Nex Meeting will be Friday, October 6, 2006 at 1:00 PM.
Marvin Coolbaugh, Chair
Dr. John Videen, Co-Chair
Elizabeth M.
Tammy R.
MEMBERS / ALTERNATES ABSENT
Mark H.
Tammy R.
Sherrie G.
Helen V.
Regina T.
Louisa C.
Alexandria B.
Frank A.
William R.
Wanda P.
VISITORS
Gilbert and Kelly Olmos
STAFF PRESENT
Tina Hornbeck, Warden (A)
Frank Sanders, Administrative Assistant
Laquitta Peterson, Capt.
Dalinda Harman, Capt.
Bryan McCraw, Lt.
Gloria Moreno
Judy Tucker R.N.
Corryn Pierini
The meeting was called to order at 1:05 PM by Marvin Coolbaugh, IFC Chair. John Videen recorded minutes. Introductions were made around the room.
Return to Top
Items Discussed:
1. Agenda Delays: Staff relayed Problems obtaining the agenda for today's meeting. Warden Hornbeck expressed the need to have the agenda items available for her and her staff to research prior to the meetings, so that informed comments and better discussion. Administrative Assistant (AA) Frank Sanders stated a minimum of seven days were required for these items to be properly prepared by staff. The Chairman took responsibility to see that the minutes will be sent to Mr.Sanders. The absence of outgoing Secretary Nancy Rubinstein of the Inmate Family Council (IFC) was cited as a problem and she will be missed.
Return to Top
2. Tour of Education Department: An update on plans for the upcoming tour of the Education Facilities and mailroom scheduled for the October IFC meeting was requested. No arrangements were made, but applications for the tour were to be sent to the Chairman who would then forward these to Mr. Sanders for processing.
Return to Top
3. Cleaning Supplies: Concern over adequate cleaning supplies in the infirmary was expressed. The Director of Nursing, Judy Tucker R.N., explained that a change in the "Brand" of the usual disinfectant was questioned regarding its efficacy against all microbial agents. The label did not specifically list activity against all desired pathogens. Rather than use this disinfectant, the infirmary began to use bleach at a 1:10 dilution for disinfectant purposes until an appropriate substitute was delivered.
Return to Top
4. Medical Release of Information Forms: The implementation of new Medical Release Forms was brought up. Correctional Health Services administrator Corryn Pierini noted that Health Information Service Technicians were recently briefed on the new forms and a special location in the inmates medical chart was identified for this form. The new form has not yet been implemented. The form expires in one year and must be renewed by the inmate. This can be done during any medical visit or by the inmate filing for a "Request for Interview" in Medical Records. This does not require a copay or 602. Nurse Tucker explained that inmates who become unexpectedly ill are offered the form by staff at the infirmary or by the Utilization Management Nurse at local hospitals. Nurse Tucker or staff will return all queries regarding ill inmates to family members whether of not a form is filled out.
Return to Top
5. IFC Minutes Distribution: Distribution of IFC minutes to WAC and prison units was discussed. The Warden is to investigate the process. Lt. McCraw and the Chairman will examine the placement of the minutes in the visiting rooms and Visitor Processing area.
Return to Top
6. Mail: Mail issues were discussed bt Lt. McCraw who has spent several days in the mailroom recently. Mail delivery is down to two to three days, and money orders are taking one business day. However, five trays of 200-300 letters each are in "No Housing Specified" or "Not on Roster" status. These letters must be individually processed to find a match to inmate housing units. The delay here for the average piece of mail is indeterminable. The Lieutenant encouraged family members to properly address envelopes and requested a prototype be included in the minutes. Approximately one of ten envelopes are estimated to be improperly addressed.
Return to Top
7. J-Pay: The J-Pay system was discussed and felt to be a timesaver. Money typically sent by money order can be sent online via jpay.com. Lt. McCraw stated the system is expected to cut down on the number of mail items and there is usually a three day turnover to get money to the inmate, much faster than the mail service. Warden Hornbeck pointed out that Jpay was not on the agenda and its use was not studied by her staff nor advocated. Having said that, no problems were known to staff present with the use of the system.
Return to Top
8. Morning Visiting Procedure: The morning visiting process procedures remain unchanged at present. Recent disruptive incidents in visiting have lead to a restudy of the present procedure of distributing numbers in the morning. Alternatives have not been brought to administration for review. In the meantime, numbers will be distributed at 6:00 AM on visiting days and vistors are asked to be civil and wait in their cars until then.
Return to Top
9. Friends Outside Trailer: Confusion regarding people waiting for visitors in the Friends Outside trailer was brought up. The Warden asked this to be tabled as this issue had not been discussed with her staff. In brief, it is queried where people who arrive with vistors but are not themselves visiting, are to wait.
Return to Top
10. Vendor Catalogs: Vendor catalogs are now available for review in the Visiting rooms and are handled by the Visiting Porters.
Return to Top
11. IFC Training: Chairman Coolbaugh related his recent experiences with an IFC Training COurse he attended and stated he would make the manual available to VSPW Staff and IFC members. Nancy Rubinstein also has contact and training information available.
12. Friday Visiting: The return of Friday visiting was discussed and identified as a possibility. Three other institutions have reinstituted Friday visits. Captain Dalina Harman stated that VSPW is not slated to do so. The staff is looking into allowing the "GET ON THE BUS" program on Fridays, but details are not presently available.
13. Rodent Contamination: Rodent contamination of canteen products was brought up and the staff will research this item. Vector control for the prison is contracted through an outside company.
14. Stingers: The IFC wished to bring the issue of Stinger access to the staff. Inmate concerns of the future availability of heating elements, or "Stingers", was addressed. The staff is unaware if they will be on the new property matrix. Staff was informed that inmates have complained that the present "Hot Pots" available do not get hot enough to boi water and would be an inadequate substitute.
Return to Top
15. Heat Wave Procedures: The Institutions' response to the heatwave was reviewed. Conference calls between Wardens and various institutions and Sacramento were referenced. The Staff brought in ice, coolers and water to the units when ambient temperatures reached certain temperatures. Ice ran out and was purchased at locals stores until they also ran out. Hotter units were identified and malfunctioning coolers were repaired. The Warden authorized partial covering of west facing windows. In some instances, maintenance soaked the outside of the building in an attempt to cool housing units. Fans were placed in Ad Seg and the SHU. Fans were ordered for the dayrooms for units. The Warden related that requests were made by energy regulators for the prison to cut down on energy use but the prison declined due to the urgency of the situation. Nurse Tucker stated that no cases heat exhaustion or heat stroke required treatment in the infirmary. The Warden reported one death during this period, but is was not attributed to the heat.
16. Window Coverings: Proposals for more permanent window coverings to alleviate future heat emergencies were discussed and are being studied by staff.
The Meeting was adjourned at 14:30
Nex Meeting will be Friday, October 6, 2006 at 1:00 PM.
Return to Minutes & Issues Page
Return to Top
Return to Home Page
Web Page Designed and Published By:
Computer Consulting Service
Return to Top
Return to Home Page
Web Page Designed and Published By:
Computer Consulting Service