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"Thank You Ladies"
VALLEY STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN
INMATE FAMILY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Friday, October 6, 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, October 6, 2006
Warden's Conference Room
MEMBERS / ALTERNATES PRESENT
Dr. John Videen, Co-Chair
Regina Thompson
Elizabeth Muniz
Mark Hanna
James Erb
MEMBERS / ALTERNATES ABSENT
Tammy R.
Sherrie G.
Louisa C.
Irma C.
Alexandria B.
Frank A.
William R.
Wanda P.
VISITORS
Dwight and Carolyn Dorsey, Gilbert Olmos
STAFF PRESENT
Tina Hornbeck, Warden (A)
Frank Sanders, Administrative Assistant
Ken Freed
M. Connolly
Geneva Freede
Mary Anderson
B. McCraw
L. Maciel
J. Tucker
Cory Pierini
J.A. Rivera
Charles Callahan
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 PM and it was announced that Marvin Coolbaugh had resigned from the IFC and that John Videen would be assuming the Chairperson's role.
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Items Discussed:
1. IFC Tour of Education Department & Mailroom: The IFC tour of the Education Department and the Mailroom facilities was rescheduled for February 2007. There was discussion that a tour of the kitchen was desired instead of the mailroom and agreed to by Warden Hornbeck. The IFC will arrange details and time with Frank Sanders.
2. Medical Release Forms: New forms for "Authorization of Release of Medical Information" (CDCR form #7385) were previewed and discussed. The inmate may fill the form out during a medical vist or submit a request to do so with Medical Records. Families are encouraged to address this issue with their inmate in advance.
3. Prescriptions: An update on prescription refills was requested. More Staff and different pharmacy protocols seem to have improved turnaround time. Refills are to be requested 10 days ahead of time. Inmates are to submit a "Co-pay Form" to get refills. Their account will not be charged a fee. Direct observation treatment or "Hot Meds" do not apply. A new pharmacy tracking system has yet to be installed.
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4. Medical Visits: Waits for medical visits seem to be reducing as a backlog is reduced. Openings for one doctor and two dentists remain. The Staff plan to assign two Resistered Nurses to each yard to handle triage.
5. Pest Control: Pest control issues were discussed. VSPW contracts with an outside firm to provide extermination. They visit the facility every Thursday.
6. Mosquito Repellant: Mosquito repellant has been available both on canteen and quarterly packages, but is selling poorly and may be eliminated at the vendor's discretion. Inmates who work outside are offered a cream that contains both sunblock and mosquito repellant.
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Dr. John Videen, Co-Chair
Regina Thompson
Elizabeth Muniz
Mark Hanna
James Erb
MEMBERS / ALTERNATES ABSENT
Tammy R.
Sherrie G.
Louisa C.
Irma C.
Alexandria B.
Frank A.
William R.
Wanda P.
VISITORS
Dwight and Carolyn Dorsey, Gilbert Olmos
STAFF PRESENT
Tina Hornbeck, Warden (A)
Frank Sanders, Administrative Assistant
Ken Freed
M. Connolly
Geneva Freede
Mary Anderson
B. McCraw
L. Maciel
J. Tucker
Cory Pierini
J.A. Rivera
Charles Callahan
The meeting was called to order at 1:00 PM and it was announced that Marvin Coolbaugh had resigned from the IFC and that John Videen would be assuming the Chairperson's role.
Return to Top
Items Discussed:
1. IFC Tour of Education Department & Mailroom: The IFC tour of the Education Department and the Mailroom facilities was rescheduled for February 2007. There was discussion that a tour of the kitchen was desired instead of the mailroom and agreed to by Warden Hornbeck. The IFC will arrange details and time with Frank Sanders.
2. Medical Release Forms: New forms for "Authorization of Release of Medical Information" (CDCR form #7385) were previewed and discussed. The inmate may fill the form out during a medical vist or submit a request to do so with Medical Records. Families are encouraged to address this issue with their inmate in advance.
3. Prescriptions: An update on prescription refills was requested. More Staff and different pharmacy protocols seem to have improved turnaround time. Refills are to be requested 10 days ahead of time. Inmates are to submit a "Co-pay Form" to get refills. Their account will not be charged a fee. Direct observation treatment or "Hot Meds" do not apply. A new pharmacy tracking system has yet to be installed.
Return to Top
4. Medical Visits: Waits for medical visits seem to be reducing as a backlog is reduced. Openings for one doctor and two dentists remain. The Staff plan to assign two Resistered Nurses to each yard to handle triage.
5. Pest Control: Pest control issues were discussed. VSPW contracts with an outside firm to provide extermination. They visit the facility every Thursday.
6. Mosquito Repellant: Mosquito repellant has been available both on canteen and quarterly packages, but is selling poorly and may be eliminated at the vendor's discretion. Inmates who work outside are offered a cream that contains both sunblock and mosquito repellant.
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Visiting Issues
7.
Bathroom Breaks During Visiting:
Bathroom breaks during visitation are offered every hour, but are somewhat variable depending on other duties of the female officers assigned to visiting.
8. Food Purchases for Ad-Seg Visiting: Money may be brought in to purchase food during visits of non-contact visitors in the general population area ONLY, but not for Ad-Seg visits.
9. Visiting Supplies Donations: Donations for the visiting area were requested to supplement artwork for photo back drops and other projects. Lt. McCraw and R. Thompson will meet to coordinate efforts. Clothing donations and children's book donations were also discussed (see #12 & #13, below).
10. Friends Outside for Visitors: The Friends Outside trailer in the Visiting Parking Lot is available for childcare (ages 4-18), clothing exchanges and provides other goodwill services to visitors. Unapproved visitors (who are not minors) are not to stay on the property during visits.
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11. Visitor's Parking Lot: Lt. McCraw pointed out that the parking lot is patrolled during visiting. People sleeping in cars will be asked to leave. If pets or children are left in cars, the visitor may be retrieved from Visiting and the visit terminated. Further, cars are to be closed and locked, as they represent an escape risk.
12. Clothing Donations: Clothing donations to provide paroling inmates something to wear when leaving the facility are currently being accepted by Lt. McCraw and by staff in the Visiting Department. This donation is tax deductible. Please bring clothing donations to Visiting.
13. Children's Book Donations for Visiting Rooms: Donations for children's books were requested. Quiet reading times in the playrooms are planned for the future. It was pointed out that children's books were included in the book drive donations from last year. Their whereabouts will be researched by Mr. Connolly and if any are found, they will be redirected to the visiting rooms.
14. Vendor Catalogs in Visiting: Vendor catalogs are available in the Visting Rooms and are updated as received. It was mentioned that they are frequently torn up, but further supervision by Staff was not a high priority at this time.
15. Baby Strollers in Visiting: The possibility of providing baby strollers for use during visiting was brought up and will be discussed by Staff.
8. Food Purchases for Ad-Seg Visiting: Money may be brought in to purchase food during visits of non-contact visitors in the general population area ONLY, but not for Ad-Seg visits.
9. Visiting Supplies Donations: Donations for the visiting area were requested to supplement artwork for photo back drops and other projects. Lt. McCraw and R. Thompson will meet to coordinate efforts. Clothing donations and children's book donations were also discussed (see #12 & #13, below).
10. Friends Outside for Visitors: The Friends Outside trailer in the Visiting Parking Lot is available for childcare (ages 4-18), clothing exchanges and provides other goodwill services to visitors. Unapproved visitors (who are not minors) are not to stay on the property during visits.
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11. Visitor's Parking Lot: Lt. McCraw pointed out that the parking lot is patrolled during visiting. People sleeping in cars will be asked to leave. If pets or children are left in cars, the visitor may be retrieved from Visiting and the visit terminated. Further, cars are to be closed and locked, as they represent an escape risk.
12. Clothing Donations: Clothing donations to provide paroling inmates something to wear when leaving the facility are currently being accepted by Lt. McCraw and by staff in the Visiting Department. This donation is tax deductible. Please bring clothing donations to Visiting.
13. Children's Book Donations for Visiting Rooms: Donations for children's books were requested. Quiet reading times in the playrooms are planned for the future. It was pointed out that children's books were included in the book drive donations from last year. Their whereabouts will be researched by Mr. Connolly and if any are found, they will be redirected to the visiting rooms.
14. Vendor Catalogs in Visiting: Vendor catalogs are available in the Visting Rooms and are updated as received. It was mentioned that they are frequently torn up, but further supervision by Staff was not a high priority at this time.
15. Baby Strollers in Visiting: The possibility of providing baby strollers for use during visiting was brought up and will be discussed by Staff.
IFC Issues
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16. IFC Minutes Distribution: It was confirmed that the prison distributes the IFC Minutes to the WAC members.
17. Communication between VSPW and IFC: Communication between IFC and the Warden's Administrative Assistant Frank Sanders was reviewed, including recent exchanges of extensions and emails. The Warden's Executive Assistant Gen Freede was also identified as a backup contact.
18. IFC Applications: It was pointed out some recent IFC Applications have been received on non-approved forms. The form that was assumed to be approved is found on the IFC website and consists of a two-page document. Apt the present time, the application contains the address of Javier Cavazos, a past Administrative Assistant who is no longer in this position. It also had the address of the previous Chairperson. The application needs to be updated, and should be addressed to the Administrative Assistant, Warden's Office.
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16. IFC Minutes Distribution: It was confirmed that the prison distributes the IFC Minutes to the WAC members.
17. Communication between VSPW and IFC: Communication between IFC and the Warden's Administrative Assistant Frank Sanders was reviewed, including recent exchanges of extensions and emails. The Warden's Executive Assistant Gen Freede was also identified as a backup contact.
18. IFC Applications: It was pointed out some recent IFC Applications have been received on non-approved forms. The form that was assumed to be approved is found on the IFC website and consists of a two-page document. Apt the present time, the application contains the address of Javier Cavazos, a past Administrative Assistant who is no longer in this position. It also had the address of the previous Chairperson. The application needs to be updated, and should be addressed to the Administrative Assistant, Warden's Office.
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Women's Property Issues
19. New Property Matrix: The new property matrix was announced by Staff and contains popular items such as personal jeans and stingers. A copy was distributed to the IFC Chairperson. It may take time for vendors to implement the changes after the January 1, 2007 approval date.
20. Stingers: The high failure rate of stingers was discussed. A protocol for checking the function of a stinger at the time of purchase was brought up. Apparently other electronic devices are checked at the time of distribution.
21. Heatwave Issues: Heat issues were reviewed. The distribution of ice, water and fans improved during the course of the summer. The possibility of permanent window coverings was dismissed at this time. Emergency authorization of partial wondow coverings by the Warden will be implemented on an as-needed basis.
The meetings was adjourned at 2:30 PM.
Next Meeting: Friday, December 3, 2006 at 1:00 PM.
VSPW Warden's Conference Room
Minutes Prepared by John Videen
Agenda Items for next meeting due by November 15, 2006.
19. New Property Matrix: The new property matrix was announced by Staff and contains popular items such as personal jeans and stingers. A copy was distributed to the IFC Chairperson. It may take time for vendors to implement the changes after the January 1, 2007 approval date.
20. Stingers: The high failure rate of stingers was discussed. A protocol for checking the function of a stinger at the time of purchase was brought up. Apparently other electronic devices are checked at the time of distribution.
21. Heatwave Issues: Heat issues were reviewed. The distribution of ice, water and fans improved during the course of the summer. The possibility of permanent window coverings was dismissed at this time. Emergency authorization of partial wondow coverings by the Warden will be implemented on an as-needed basis.
The meetings was adjourned at 2:30 PM.
Next Meeting: Friday, December 3, 2006 at 1:00 PM.
VSPW Warden's Conference Room
Minutes Prepared by John Videen
Agenda Items for next meeting due by November 15, 2006.
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