JULY/AUGUST 2017 VOL. 26 NO. 4
Contraband Frustration Latest in Video Visitation
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Contraband Frustration
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(ISSN10729275) is published bi-monthly by: Criminal Justice Media, Inc 565 Pier Avenue PO Box 213 Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 (310) 374-2700 Send address changes to:
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American Correctional Association Show Coverage In the Gateway City The American Probation & Parole Association Training Institute Rolls into the Big Apple National Commission on Correctional Health Care’s Mental Health Conference
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NYC DEPT. OF CORRECTION STOPS SMUGGLING ATTEMPT COLD DOC’s Correction Intelligence Bureau (CIB) recently arrested a female visitor for attempting to smuggle ten razor blades, one handcuff key, and one sharpened screwdriver into a DOC facility. On June 22, investigators discovered the contraband wrapped in foam inside a bag belonging to a 32-year-old woman who was at DOC’s Bronx facility, the Vernon C. Bain Center (VCBC), to visit an inmate. CIB arrested the suspect on the spot, and she now faces felony and misdemeanor charges.
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Incidentally, the inmate she intended to visit had already been bailed out. A key part of DOC’s 14 Point Anti-Violence Reform Agenda is keeping contraband out of jails. The reform agenda is designed to move the Department towards a culture of safety. Less contraband means less violence. This latest arrest highlights the triple digit year over year (calendar year 2016 vs. 2015) increase in weapons contraband finds by DOC Investigators. Weapons contraband finds increased 538%, and drug contraband finds increased 45%. The large spike in contraband
finds is the direct result of an ongoing amnesty program, and new DOC investigative tactics and strategies including: increased K-9 units special search teams, and increased visitor bus searches, the department said.
PRISON LAW FOCUSES ON INCARCERATION ISSUES A decade out from his 1999 call to the bar, McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP partner Kevin Egan had barely even heard of prison law. But that all changed when a friend of the family of Randy Drysdale walked through the London, Ont., firm’s front doors asking to see a lawyer and the employment
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and personal injury-focused Egan happened to be in the office, according to a July 17 article in Law Times. Drysdale died in 2009 inside the walls of the imposing Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) in what the provincial officials had described as a slip and fall in the shower. “I ended up talking with the family and then agreed to participate in the inquest on their behalf,” Egan says. After hearing evidence that Drysdale was beaten unconscious by at least two fellow inmates and then dragged to the bathroom, a coroner’s inquest jury concluded that his death was a homicide, and it made a series of recommenda-
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tions to improve safety, supervision and medical care at the jail. “That process really opened my eyes to just how serious the systemic problems were at the EMDC. It was shocking to hear about the inmates’ code: where they get beaten up and don’t talk about it, the lack of supervision and the overcrowding. I saw it as part of my mandate for that family to make sure nobody else would have to go through the same thing. “Unfortunately, I wasn’t successful, because we’ve had a couple more inquests since then and a few more to come,” Egan says. “They keep taking bodies out of the EMDC, and despite what they may say, not much has been done to improve the situation there.”
In a statement to Law Times, Yanni Dagonas, a spokesman for Ontario’s Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, said the province was “committed to safeguarding human rights and ensuring the safety of individuals placed in the correctional system” and had made a number of changes at EMDC specifically. Those include around 350 new security cameras, 86 additional correctional officers and the installation of a new control module that improves sightlines. Egan says the inquest jury verdict in 2011 generated some local media attention, prompting more people to call him with their own horror stories about life inside EMDC.
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“And it just snowballed from there,” he says. Last summer, a class action spearheaded by Egan was certified by an Ontario Superior Court judge. The claim, which has not been proven in court, was brought on behalf of all inmates held in the jail between 2010 and mid-2013 and seeks damages from the province for alleged breaches of its duty of care and Charter violations. Now, when they hit Egan’s voicemail, callers from the local prison are redirected to a dedicated telephone line “because of the high volume of calls” he receives, he says. In the last two years, the Canadian government has signalled a
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new tone and approach toward prisoner treatment, including introducing in June a bill that would for the first time place a legislated limit on the amount of time a prisoner can spend in segregation. See the full story on www.lawtimesnews.com.
APPA GIVING AWAY A NEW CAR TO A MEMBER AT AUGUST EVENT Community corrections professionals are an elite group focused on reducing recidivism, managing offenders, and enhancing public safety in both the criminal and juvenile justice arenas, stated the American Probation and Parole Association in a news release. To express our appreciation,
APPA said, every "individual member" will be eligible to win prizes during the Members Matter celebration. The first prize will be awarded on August 30, 2017, when one lucky "individual member" will win a brand new car. It is APPA's way of showing gratitude for ways in which members have contributed to the association by setting the standard of excellence in the industry. The give-away will be held in conjunction with APPA’s 42nd Annual Training Institute to be held August 27-30 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. For more information on the training event, see www.appa-net.org; for the give-away see www.appa-net.org/ Members-Matter.
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BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
PHONES, KNIVES, AND DRUGS
Contraband Frustration omedian Lily Tomlin once said, “No matter how cynical I get, I can never seem to keep up.” One can only imagine what employees in correctional institutions would say about cynicism when it comes to contraband. Controlling contraband is a continuous endeavor for those employed in the correctional industry, and doing so requires utilizing technology and methods both new and old, and so much contraband either utilizes methods of communication to enter and be used in facilities, or the communication devices themselves are the contraband. Savvy inmates can figure out how to hide things almost anywhere. Letter writing has been a form of communication and transferring material for centuries. Letters can be kept and reread forever. The USPS is respect-
C
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STILL HAUNT CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS. HERE ARE SOME SOLUTIONS.
ed and dependable. When Harry Winston donated the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian, he sent it via registered mail for $2.13. Until 1872, mail thieves were subject to the death penalty. That level of dependability also means a reliable method of smuggling contraband. In 2013, the San Diego Union Tribune reported that drug smuggling in prison had been significantly reduced. Sheriffs’ Departments credited the reduction to a decision to ban inmates from getting letters delivered in envelopes. During the first 11 months of the ban, deputies uncovered 10 attempts to smuggle narcotics into the facility. In the eight months prior, there had been 35 attempts. The year before that, prosecutors filed 66 contraband cases. Furthermore, the drop came at a time when inmate numbers were up by about 400 a day. The figures might suggest a success, but when dealing with
correctional facilities, an environment in which MacGyver types thrive, it’s just another problem that needs to be solved. In Southwestern Virginia, inmates were receiving photos and other papers soaked in suboxone, a drug used to treat heroin addiction. On April 1, 2017, the Indiana DOC banned greeting cards and any other kind of colored paper of as well as photocopies of white paper. The move was a result of a recent trend of lacing mail with drugs. Lined white paper sent in white envelopes and legal documents can still be sent to inmates. The drug K2 is difficult to detect. Dogs cannot smell it, and drug tests are ineffective. Maryland proposed a rule barring inmates from receiving mail, also as a result of sending strips of suboxone in letters, often behind stamps. The proposal was withdrawn after pressure exerted by the ACLU.
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A clear cabinet typewriter from Swintec.
Inmates have been known to hide things in the cleverest of places including in between the two sides of a post card. Technology waxes and wanes. Some do both. While technology has made many things obsolete, others simply dwindle. Dominic Vespia, owner of Swintec, a New Jersey-based manufacturer of typewriters, notes that there are two typewriter markets remaining: government and corrections. State prisoners can have typewriters in their cells. Naturally a typewriter is rife with potential to hide contraband. “I don’t think a property room employee would see a typewriter come into the facility more than once a month,” Vespia says, but when they do, as with anything that is opaque, it needs to be searched. One problem is that if the employee damages the typewriter in the process, he or she is responsible for it, and Vespia estimates that as many as 80%-90% of typewriters are damaged during disassembly. On top of that, every time a cell is tossed, the typewriter will need to be searched, 14 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
A regular typewriter must be searched when it arrives at the facility and every time a cell is “tossed.” Damage to the typewriter is the facility’s liability.
which means disassembled. It all began when Vespia got a call from an incarcerated attorney who sought a manufacturer to create a typewriter that would not need to be dismantled. Vespia, the attorney/inmate said, was his last hope. After some thought, Vespia came up with a clear typewriter casing, which is now manufactured specifically for prisons. (Among the customers is David Berkowitz, aka the Son of Sam, who has written extensively while incarcerated). Most people buy the 2400 Model because, unlike in civilian life, the appeal is that this has the fewest functions. Federal prisons do not allow typewriters in cells. They keep them in the library, so the functionality even with the next step up would allow prisoners to leave messages for one another, an ability authorities do not want them to have. Michigan waged a 15-year legal battle with inmates after they took away their typewriters. The inmates won the case with one caveat: the typewriters had to be clear, so once again, Vespia’s phone rang.
While typewriters may have dwindled in most markets, cell phones and smart phones have exploded. They are correctional facilities’ bane when it comes to contraband, and they are replete. When inmates rioted in Holman Correctional Facility in Alabama, the first images sent to WKRG News 5 came from inmates’ smart phones. When asked how inmates even got phones, the answer was pretty simple. They buy them from COs. The logic to the inmates interviewed was that the inmates can communicate with their families, the CO can make some money for their own families, and it gives the inmates something to keep them occupied in a volatile environment that is both overcrowded and understaffed. The logic to COs though is that cell phones in an inmate’s hands can be as deadly as a weapon. Hits are ordered. Witnesses are intimidated. Exes who think they are safe are once again contacted. They are, said California State Sen. Alex Padilla, “a clear and present danger to public safety.” Recently the
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Association of State Correctional Administrators appealed to the FCC in a letter detailing some of the horrific crimes committed by inmates with access to cell phones. While the FCC is aware of the situation, corrections technology (CT) vendors offer solutions to the cell phone menace.
Multi-tiered Approach
Experts suggest utilizing a multi-tiered approach. There are effective measures such as dogs, metal detectors, and physical searches, but the situation still requires that the devices be confiscated in order to prevent communication. This puts the lives of correctional officers at risk by confronting inmates and burdens understaffed facilities even further. While every journey starts with a single step and every phone counts, detection on its own does not solve the issue as new devices will ultimately return into the correctional facility via drones, visitors, and corrupt officers. One potential solution is managed access technology. Much like Stephen King’s The Dome, managed access creates an umbrella around a correctional facility that blocks incoming and outgoing cell phone calls. One company that offers such services is GTL, a Reston, Va.-based innovator in correctional technology and payment services solutions for government. Chris Pickering, Intelligence Tools Team Lead at GTL, notes that Managed Access Systems (MAS) are crucial in fighting contraband phones. He furthers, though, that it is not a silver bullet. It could impact the reception for nearby communities. He stated, in his July 1, 2017 paper, that managed access should be considered a component of several solutions. For one thing, inmates constantly attempt to circumvent the facilities’ defenses and security measures by boosting connectivity and taking advantage of down-
time during upgrades to wireless technology and MAS technology. Because of this, says Pickering, they recommend using the blended technologies approach, which addresses both sides of the supply and demand dynamic. The blended approach requires the use of ferrous metal detectors, such as those manufactured by Metrasens. The detectors sense the motion of metal, so if an inmate has a cell phone that is
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turned off, if it is moving, it will be detected. There should also be metal detectors as well as other mobile detection tools throughout the facility. Metrasens announced in July that the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services (DPSCS) has selected its Cellsense Plus contraband detection system to address the ongoing contraband interdiction efforts of correctional facilities
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Cell phones continue to be correctional facilities’ bane when it comes to contraband. An old flip phone has been known to fetch $2,000.
across the state. In total, 163 Cellsense Plus systems will be deployed across 24 site/group locations. CEIA-USA notes that recent standards issued by U.S.
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Department of Justice established new requirements regarding sensitivity, discrimination, and immunity for metal detectors used in correctional facilities. The three levels of security specified by the
standard are small, medium, and large, and they define different possible treatments for visitors or inmates in correctional facilities. CEIA provides metal detectors specifically designed to comply with the different security levels of the standard as well as with other international standards for walk-through metal detectors used in correctional facilities. CEIA offers several solutions including walk-through metal detectors, hand-held metal detectors, bottle and liquid scanners, mail-screening devices, and magneto-static detectors. All of these technologies can assist in preventing anything from coming into the facility in the first place. This “holistic” approach, wrote Pickering, is a proven and fast growing best practice. The analogy, furthers Jeffrey Haidinger, president and chief operating officer at GTL, is that of a leaking boat. Before you start bailing water, you need to
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Technology is available that jams the drone's computer and blocks its frequency and control protocols.
plug the hole. The idea is the same. Before bailing out the phones from correctional facilities, the leak first needs to be stopped. Securus Technologies is also a provider of managed access, a term, which says a Securus spokesperson, can mean different things to different people. Securus’ Wireless Containment Solution (WCS) prevents only illegal/unauthorized cellular communications from taking place but allows limited communications from authorized cell phones within a controlled environment. Wireless Containment Solution technology allows for 911 emergency calls from any cellular device on the system, thus aligning with general consumer public safety objectives. The functions of WCS are similar to that of a commercial cell phone company, but WCS creates a private cellular network within a facility's designated areas. In its first month of use in a state correctional facility, Securus’ WCS prevented more than 35,000 illegal attempts at communication. “It is this specific feature of Securus’ WCS that makes this radio-based technology solution the most effective means to prevent the use of contraband cell phones,” the company states. Along with preventing contraband devices from reaching the commercial mobile network, Securus’ system also has the capability to provide additional infor18 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
mation to assist law enforcement agencies with criminal investigations. This feature can be critical in terminating threats and preventing hits put out on the lives of correctional staff, judges, witnesses, victims, and others. Securus’ WCS detects, prevents, and intercepts illegal communication from wireless contraband devices but allows limited communication from authorized cell phones and all 911 calls. The way it works is by creating a private cell phone network within a facility’s designated areas and preventing illegal devices from connecting to commercial mobile networks thus eliminating threats posed by inmates with cell phones. It effectively eliminates the demand for contraband devices in correctional facilities because inmates with money are not afraid to use it, and an old flip phone has been known to fetch $2,000, but if it will only be a paper weight, there’s not much point. One more recent development in contraband introduction is drones. Drones, says John Scarperia of Tex-Net Inc., have greatly impacted the effectiveness of vertical netting. (They also offer horizontal netting, which would be a more apt avenue in addressing drones). Jail management consultant Donald Leach told USAToday that smugglers could be discouraged by introducing anti-drone jammers, which disable the signals on the flying objects, and a digital protective
shield, which blocks the entry of drones into the facilities by hacking into its operating system. In May 2017, Les Nicolles prison on Guernsey in the Channel Islands in the United Kingdom was the first prison in the world to adopt Sky Fence technology, which creates a 2,000-foot shield around a prison that will detect and deflect drones. The device works by utilizing a series of sensors called “disruptors” that jam the drone's computer, and block its frequency and control protocols. The operator's screen will go black and the drone will be bounced back to where it came from, sort of a Return to Sender. The jail had planned on installing a drone detection system, but went a step further to put in the technology that actually stops drones in-flight. Prisoner governor David Matthews told the Telegraph, "This is the first time this technology has been used in any prison anywhere in the world.” Sky Fence was created by UK companies Drone Defence and Eclipse Digital Solutions. Richard Gill, CEO, told the Telegraph, "Someone described it as the final piece in a prison's security puzzle. I think it could have a significant worldwide impact." Costs range from £100,000 to £250,000 (about $130,000 to $320,000). Guernsey's Home Affairs president Deputy Mary Lowe told the Telegraph that the introduction of the technology was an exciting time. "Here we have Guernsey leading the way in the world." ✪
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BY MICHAEL GROHS, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Video Visitation
Latest legislation, compliance for the deaf and investigative capabilities.
friends and family who want to visit someone, few groups would be more difficult and require more planning than visiting an inmate. Many prisons are rural. In states like Wyoming, they are all rural. Visiting residents of correctional facilities takes time, travel, and money for food, fuel, and lodging. Visiting hours are set. Adding a hearing impairment to the matter makes it more of a challenge. Tidal Wave Telecom, says CEO Chris Talbot, is the leading provider of secured video relay (SVR) to jails and prisons for video calls by deaf inmates. The
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system was developed to replace the TTY machine, which was a sort of e-mail access via the phone for people with hearing or speaking limitations. TTY, though, is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the National Rehabilitation Act, or the Prison Rape Elimination Act. There are, says Talbot, two types of video interpreting. There is video relay service (VRS), which is paid for by funds from the Federal Universal Service Fund, which is a tax that goes into a pool that pays for equal access. This is a huge fund that ensures equal access, so if you
were to lose both arms, the government will get you access. Tidal Wave’s SecureVRS® provides phone service for inmates who have a right to phone calls. Anyone over 50, says Talbot, likely has some sort of hearing loss. Tidal Wave partners with a VRS provider. Tidal Wave makes the recorder. Conversations are recorded for review, security, and public safety. Previously there had been no recording capability. A standard home-style system, such as Skype, is essentially giving an inmate a private phone with access to anywhere in the world. “Our product is a public safety issue,” Talbot emphasizes.
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The system works by allowing deaf inmates to connect to a licensed video relay provider via a secure system. An inmate signs in to a special purpose video relay kiosk with their prison issued user ID and password. Inmates are only allowed to call authorized numbers. Each call is then recorded or not recorded based upon the profile that is associated with the number. (For example, calls to the inmate's relatives are recorded, but calls to their attorney or priest are not recorded). The call is then forwarded from the facility to the licensed VRS provider via the SecureVRS® Call Manager, which is connected to a licensed sign language services via the Internet. When the video relay interpreter answers the video call, an outbound telephone call is placed to the destination number. The interpreter then relays the conversation between the inmate and the telephone party. One of the issues, notes Talbot, is that most installations are the result of a court order, and he stresses this to compliance officers. A common logic could be that the facility might not house any deaf inmates, but how do they know when they will get one? At a conference in Pennsylvania, he once asked the group if they had any deaf inmates in their facility. One attendee said that they had never had one, and then in one night they had four. The true need, he says, is at the jail level. For example, if a deaf person from out of town is arrested in Graceville, Minn., a farming town of 565, he or she would be entitled to one phone call. It used to be through TTY, but the courts said that TTY is no longer compliant. With SecureVRS, there is a method for deaf inmates to make phone calls and for those calls to adhere to public safety. There may be resistance, says Talbot. It costs money, and it is a change to the policy, but he stresses that the savings can easi22 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
ly be found in the lawsuits avoided. Recent lawsuits, says Talbot, have totaled $250,000 to $750,000. A Department of Corrections has yet to win a lawsuit denying a deaf inmate access to VRS. “If an inmate needs glasses, they give him glasses.” He furthers, “Nobody knows how many deaf inmates there are.” While video visitation for hearing impaired inmates is more of a compliance matter, for hearing inmates it can be a matter of convenience. Andy Shu, Business
each way. With the Black Creek System, visitors can stay at home, and COs can watch it live and record the conversation. Black Creek offers the IP Visitor© Video Visitation System. They are not revenue based, such as a telephone company. (A while back the FCC clamped down on how much companies could charge inmates for phone calls.) The jail can generally pay for the system in a matter of nine to 16 months, experts estimate. When an inmate is booked,
Black Creek’s IP Visitor Video Visitation System
Development and National Accounts at Black Creek Integrated Systems points out, “We focus on how video visitation eliminates all visitors from entering a facility, which in turn eliminates contraband.” Video visitation, says Shu, benefits all. Inmates have more opportunities to communicate with the outside world. It opens up visitation hours. The systems are right in the pods, and some facilities allow visitation for 12 to 20 hours. They are autonomous, so there is no need for an officer to move an inmate, which is always a security risk. It benefits the visitor. It eliminates the need for travel. Some counties are very large, and a visitor might have to drive 90 miles
they are given information about the system. There are also many fail safes. “We are very thorough with how we manage our system.” The system is user friendly. Visits are scheduled. If an inmate is moved from A Pod or B Pod, the system knows to move the visitation. If an inmate loses visitation privileges, the visitor is notified. The system incorporates different levels of approval when getting visitors approved or disapproved. Visitors have to set up a profile. They have to come to the facility in person for the first visit. In one case, there were two brothers: one had visiting approval, and the other did not. When the approved brother logged on and jumped out of
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view, the disapproved brother took his place. The system detected the switch and prevented anything from transpiring. Currently Black Creek is working on facial recognition to further enhance fail safes. Not only is visitation made possible for visitors, it is also possible to use in investigations. As Shu points out, in a road rage incident in Douglasville, Ga., 23year-old Dewey Green rear-ended a family at a stoplight. When Janice Pitts exited her Navigator to investigate, Green repeatedly ran her over as her horrified daughter and grandson looked on. The defense proposed that Green had suffered head trauma in the accident and suffered a seizure despite the fact that the crash was light enough that the airbags didn’t deploy. During his trial, prosecutors introduced evidence of Green on a video visitation with his girlfriend as he danced around, said he was fine, and even did “the worm.” As a result, he was convicted to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 40 years.
Reentry Assistance Not only is video visitation convenient, it can be therapeutic. A Securus Technologies spokesman points out that the U.S. realizes a 60%-70% recidivism rate, and the company is trying to help with that. They have been studying the metrics, which show that inmates’ chance of successfully reentering society increases significantly when inmates are able to see friends and family. In February 2017, the organization appointed a director of Recidivism and Reentry to assist in the matter. Securus Technologies offers apps for both Android and Apple devices that allow for inmates to visit with relatives without the relatives having to travel, which can be a financial or physical challenge. Video visitation offers numerous advantages. It can eliminate long lines of visitors, manu24 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
ally manage visitation schedules, increase focus on the safety and security of inmates, officers, and the public. Securus Video Visitation is a fully web-based visitation system that allows friends, family members, attorneys, and public officials to schedule and participate in video visitation sessions with an inmate from anywhere with Internet access using a smartphone, tablet, or PC. Traditional visitation requires COs to escort inmates from their pods to visitation areas. Those COs must remain constantly alert. No one can predict what an inmate will do, and what if the visit doesn’t go well? The visitation process offers benefits for the facility. In a busy lobby, people wait impatiently, and getting in line early to visit can add to that. Staff members are burdened with scheduling visits and determining inmate availability. New visitation lists are routinely hand delivered to housing units as schedules change. There are extensive screening processes for visiting family members. Visitors may struggle to hear loved ones in a loud environment. Remote visitation offers longer visits and can extend visiting hours without adding extra work for staff. Video visitation systems manage schedules without staff intervention and can schedule multiple visits and multiple visitors at once regardless of travel restrictions. Visits can be conducted in quiet and private settings and have increased visitation hours. Brian Deuster, product manager, Video Initiatives, at Reston, Va.- based GTL points out that video visitation technology can particularly benefit small children who may be negatively affected by a visit to a corrections facility. Video visitation eliminates the crowds, the security, the pat downs, going through metal detectors, and having to wait for extended periods of time. Using video visitation, family members can see and speak with an incarcerated loved one more
often and from the convenience of their own home. The Douglas County Department of Corrections in Omaha, Neb., recently adopted GTL’s video visitation technology, including the online scheduling function. Deuster says that staff report that the online scheduling function reduces labor costs and increases convenience and safety for everyone inside the facility. Visitors can conveniently schedule visitations online or at a kiosk in the facility’s lobby at no cost. There is, however, a backlash to video visits. In California, for instance, Governor Brown in June approved the state’s 2017 budget along with a measure that stops jails from continuing to replace in-person visitation with video calling and gives inmate families their first hour of video visitations each week for free. It is reported by HBO’s Vice News that some prisoner advocates are supporting the ability to continue face-to-face visits. The Prison Policy Initiative estimates that 600 facilities in 46 states have implemented video visitation and 74 percent of jails that implement the technology eliminate in-person visits. Some family and friends feel the Skype-like visits are less personal. And video calls aren’t cheap either: one estimate says a call from home can cost $9 per half hour, which can create a struggle to pay that Vice News says is devastating families. As many as one in three families go into debt trying to stay in touch, they say. Money talks. There is a financial case for remote video visitation when considering the number of officers needed to transport inmates, staff the lobby, answer questions, and schedule future visits. Video visitation offers an alternative to be able to redeploy staff and officers to work on other functions. In addition, the fee for the video call finances inmate programs. One company spokesman sums it up: “Pretty much everything we do saves money for the facility.” ✪
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BY G.F. GUERCIO, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Food Service DOLLARS & SENSE PHOTO COURTESY OF ARAMARK
Cost cutting, reductions, budgets….these can leave a bad taste if the cost of inmate meals are inflated.
FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS are always tasked with doing more with less. When budget 28 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
cuts are necessary at an institution it seems that the food service operation is usually the one area that takes the hit—either by reduction in staff or reduction in the food budget, says Tim Thielman, CFSM, CCFP, lieutenant, Ramsey County
Community Corrections, Minn., and president, Association of Correctional Food Service Affiliates (ACFSA) International. “Being one of the most potentially volatile areas of an institution it is important for administrators to consider this when making
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Aramark’s SHIELD training program is certification based focusing on workplace safety, avoiding offender manipulation, and educating on corrections-specific topics like PREA.
budget cuts. Subpar food products will negatively impact inmate moral and jeopardize the safety and security of the entire institution to include staff safety. Moreover, food budgets are being impacted more than ever with the growing number of food allergies, therapeutic, and religious diets in the inmate population.” Having well-trained food service personnel is a very important aspect of a successful operation, he adds. “Allergies, religious diets, and food safety should be at the top of the list as well as the safety and security aspects of working in a correctional environment. The cost in keeping food service staff well trained is considerably lower than the cost of a potential lawsuit from a foodborne illness or failure to provide a special therapeutic or religious diet.” Doing more with food for less money is a problem that has stymied correctional food service professionals for years, says Rick Pedi, founder, Aggregated Menu Power, a start-up that is attempting to transform how the correctional food service industry uses food, through the connectivity of modern information networks. With more than $2.7 billion of food purchases each year, the 30 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
Union Supply Group’s recent private label launch provides lower cost beef developed for food enjoyment.
industry faces unrelenting taxpayer pressure, he notes, yet the operator community is technologically blocked from making significant progress against its Number One challenge: How to create meals that significantly reduce food costs and comply with nutritional regulations, while making sure that menu changes do not cause problems. “We are in the process of working with a community of jails to set up a database of menu-making knowledge for the industry. We are trying to amass jails that represent approximately $30 million in annual food purchases. We estimate that our services can generate a 20 percent reduction
in food costs,” Pedi says. He explains, “These cost reductions are made possible by our proprietary NutrientMass Utility technology which cuts through conventional food-classification thinking and solves the puzzle of how the economics of nutrition actually work in meal and menu design. Aggregated Menu Power is a food-cost reducer that aggregates the industry’s vast quantities of menu data and uses new menu science and data analytics to create a wide variety of food costreducing services.” “Whether you buy top shelf food items or budget-saving substitutes, food that is served at poor temperatures kills the quality,” says Rob Zachrich, president, JonesZylon. “Since most correctional facilities transport meals from a central kitchen to the housing units I see a trend in corrections food service of moving toward heated food carts for this very reason—better quality meals. A heated cart has a higher upfront cost but will allow you to use lower cost dinnerware and save operational costs each year.” Effectiveness and efficiency can be impacted by using the right cart to transport the meals, he says. Factors to look for are: right capacity so only one cart is needed per housing unit, proper security features for minimal staff supervision, high correctionsgrade durability so it stays in service and not in maintenance, compatible dinnerware that works correctly with the cart. “The main obstacle that I see to investing in the right cart is the budget; or at least the timing of the budget,” Zachrich observes. “One solution would be to lease/finance the equipment so
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that it can be purchased with daily operational funds. There are also bridge leases that basically get you the carts you need right now and then finish purchasing them when the budget season finally comes.”
Smart Handling
The men’s culinary skills course at Ramsey County Community Corrections works to reduce recidivism as well as train food service staff to prevent costly food safety and special diet issues.
Reducing Recidivism Facilities are starting to look to programs for inmates to lower recidivism in food service and other areas. In addition to food service the Ramsey County Correctional Facility (RCCF) in St. Paul, Minnesota, is conducting certification programs in horticulture and has a program for certified laundry technicians. In addition to these vocational programs, RCCF has added Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for offenders seeking employment, which is an additional two weeks in the classroom. High-risk offenders are targeted for the programs. Because line staff often teach these classes, the positive interaction between offenders and staff builds trust. It also allows staff to understand institutional goals and gets them to buy-in and take ownership towards the success of inmate programs. —Tim Thielman, lieutenant, Ramsey County Community Corrections food service administrator, St. Paul, Minn., ACFSA International president 32 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
Storing and smart handling of food products to extend their shelf life is one way to control costs, notes Tania Nelson, director of Marketing, Cambro Manufacturing. In some cases, making that happen can be as simple as educating kitchen staff on effective food processing techniques, providing the right tools and explaining specific ways to handle perishable products to optimize their freshness. Storage products are an initial up-front cost, she says, however, facilities can often recoup the amount they invest within a few months. “Third-party laboratory testing has shown that when used properly with a Cambro Food Pan, Cambro Seal Covers can extend the shelf life of produce by two to three days beyond storage with disposable wraps, foils or no cover at all.” Other ways to manage costs, she says: Change produce suppliers; use local vendors/products; track food waste; adjust food portions/menu options; minimize inventory; evaluate, weigh and inspect all deliveries; work with a chef or consultant to find other ways to stretch a budget. Annemarie Fisher, director of Marketing, Insinger, makers of warewashers, says they help in the struggle between cost versus quality by offering affordable maintenance throughout the lifetime of the unit. It also hinges having a good grasp of the process. “Understanding the entire washing process from prescrapping to unloading clean dishes can always make an operation more efficient. Ensuring your team is putting in the effort up front will always help guaranContinues on page 47
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BY BILL SCHIFFNER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF THE AMERICA’S CENTER CONVENTION COMPLEX, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Summer ACA Conference:
The ACA summer conference will be held at the America’s Convention Center Complex in St. Louis.
Heading to the Gateway City
T
he American Correctional Association’s upcoming 147th Congress of Correction promises to be the ideal spot to view the latest in new products and technologies for the corrections market. It is being held at the America’s Convention Center Complex in St. Louis, Mo., from August 18-22. With all workshops, meetings, events and 34 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
exhibits at the Complex, this annual summer event promises to be one of the largest gatherings of corrections personnel in the country. A wide variety of companies will be on the exhibit floor offering product demos and showcasing the current crop of high-tech solutions for the corrections industry. Corrections officials, administrators and their staff will be able to check out cutting-edge products and technologies—from detection and tracking devices to commissary items and jail man-
agement software. Here’s a preshow shopping list of some of the latest products that will be drawing crowds.
Tablet-based Education Solution Bob Barker Company offers Edovo, a tablet-based education solution that utilizes a unique learn-to-earn method. The program minimizes incidents by keeping inmates engaged with thousands of hours of academic, vocational, therapeutic and reli-
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gious content. Inmates learn at their own pace while earning free entertainment content that is approved for correctional use. Edovo is tailored to fit the needs of any jail. www.bobbarker.com/edovo, 1.888.772.0253
public safety, investigation, corrections and monitoring, has released shocking data that demonstrates the effectiveness of its solution and the severity of the contraband cell phone challenges faced by U.S. correctional facilities. Data collected from Securus’ Wireless Containment Solution (WCS) technology reveals that eight correctional facilities around the country were able to track and stop a combined 1,693,530 illegal communications attempts (and counting). Most startling, one facility prevented 107,827 phone call attempts from contraband cell phones within the first two months following the Securus WCS activa-
Technology Solutions Securus Technologies, a leading provider of civil and criminal justice technology solutions for
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tion. The company reports the newest installations bring total communications detected and prevented to nearly 1.7 million and counting since July 2016. https://securustech.net, 1.972.277.0656
Real-Time Check Ins TimeKeeping Systems offers advanced RF technology for documenting well-being checks, cell checks and suicide watches. Their Guard1 system also provides mobile devices, real-time inmate location and movement,
automatically records activities, medical services and more. The company’s other products include The PIPE and Duress
CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017 35
Devices for officers and staff emergency signaling. From the leader in correctional technology since 1986. www.guard1.com, 1.800.THE.PIPE.
Quarter Pound Beef Burger
that. Back Country Quarter Pound Beef Burger is high in protein, contains no preservatives, and is gluten free and value priced. It will make any inmate feel like they are at the backyard BBQ. www.unionsupplygroup.com, 1.310.604.4626
Union Supply Group continually tries to develop products for food enjoyment and their recent private label launch has done just
Caramel Chocolate Candy M&M’S Caramel Chocolate Candies is the biggest launch in M&M’S brand history. This innovative treat features a delectable
combination of rich, milk chocolate with a smooth caramel center—and is coated in the worldfamous colorful candy shell. www.mars.com, 1.800.631.7630
Automated Systems Spartan by GUARDIAN RFID is a weapon of mass data collection that protects and empowers on every budget. Spartan is an ultra-
36 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
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rugged, Android-based device purpose built for corrections professionals. Equipped with RFID, Wi-Fi, Push-to-Talk, high-resolution imaging, and more, Spartan helps you gain operational dominance by running corrections most widely used mobile platform to automate security rounds, positive ID headcounts, inmate activity logging and more. Integration with a jail management system helps empower a staff to take care of business with lighting fast superiority, and command and control. www.guardianrfid.com, 1.855.777.RFID (7343)
Display Monitors JailCall integrates with any correctional facility management system to display real-time inmate information on monitors in the facility. Both facility personnel and visitors are informed of an inmate’s bond information, as well as the status of the
detainee such as “booked,” “fingerprinted” or “ready for bond.” If authorized personnel make any changes to the information in the facility management system, the changes will instantly be reflected on the monitors. www.infax.com, 1.770.209.9925
Food Service Training Aramark’s IN2WORK program provides training and skills that prepare offenders to get a job in the food service, retail and warehousing industries once released. IN2WORK graduates who have received ServSafe, or certification from their partner, Strayer University, can also apply for an
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internship with Aramark or a scholarship to continue their education. Visit them at booths 700-704 to learn more about how they are helping clients combat recidivism. aramark.com/corrections
Jail Management System SallyPort is a web-based, enterprise class, fully agency-configurable jail management system developed exclusively to meet the management needs of local, city, and county-level jails. The simplicity and ease of use of the software makes the process of booking and detention as fast and as simple as possible. SallyPort works seamlessly with records management systems, commis-
CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017 37
sary systems, inmate telephone systems, and other third-party applications to promote informa-
tion sharing and automation of many of the booking and recordkeeping tasks of any size detention facility. From intake to release, SallyPort helps agencies ensure due process and realize higher levels of efficiency throughout operations. It reduces the time spent, and thus the administrative costs, associated with inmate record management. www.blackcreekisc.com/jms, 1.205.949.9900
Detection Devices CEIA solutions include metal detectors that comply with the strictest security standards and provide unmatched reliability, immunity to environmental interference and consistency for the detection of a full range of metal weapon threat items, over the entire body of the individual, including the body cavities. CEIA USA Correction Security solutions include walk-through and hand-held metal detectors, cell phone detector, bottled liquid scanners and letter/parcel inspection system. ISO 9001 Certified, GSA Contract Holder and DHS SAFETY Act Certified. www.ceia-usa.com, 1 330.405.3190
Corrections Health Services Centurion, LLC, a leading provider of health care services, offers services to state correctional agencies and serve seven state correctional systems (Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Vermont). It was
founded by two of the oldest and most respected companies in correctional health care and managed Medicaid—MHM Services, Inc. and Centene Corporation. www.centurionmangedcare.com, 1.800.416.3649
Continues on page 49 38 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
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BY BILL SCHIFFNER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
APPA Training Institute Rolls into the Big Apple T HE A MERICAN P ROBATION AND PAROLE A SSOCIATION ’ S (APPA) 42 ND A NNUAL TRAINING INSTITUTE WILL TAKE PLACE AUGUST 27-30 IN NEW YORK CITY AT THE MARRIOTT M ARQUIS -T IMES S QUARE . T HE I NSTITUTE ’ S THEME THIS YEAR IS “CLIENTS, COMMUNITIES, E MPLOYEES : E MPOWERMENT T HROUGH PARTNERSHIPS.” “We are anticipating more than 2,000 attendees as well as 85 exhibitors showcasing their latest products,” reports Drilon Gojani, membership coordinator at the organization. He adds that Piper Kerman, author of Orange is the New Black, will be their opening session keynote speaker on Sunday, August 27, followed by a Plenary Session panel session on Monday, August 28, that will explore the findings of the independent commission regarding Rikers Island. John Calhoun, founder of Justice Resource Institute, will deliver the closing remarks on Wednesday, August 30. “In total, there are nearly 100 workshops that participants can choose from over the course of the event,” he points out. “We are also excited to announce a new activity that has been designed to get attendees moving beyond the meeting room. The Community Corrections Chase (C3) is a competitive challenge VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017 39
their needs. This includes courtroom processing, judicial dashboards, dynamic searches, public portals, and more. www.journaltech.com, 1.877.587.8927
based on the popular CBS show The Amazing Race. Beginning and ending at the Marriott Marquis on Tuesday afternoon, participants will visit different sites around New York City with prizes going to the first, second, and third place teams,� Gojani concludes. Here’s a look at some of the products and services that will be creating a buzz in the exhibit hall.
cFive Catalyst bridges the client-supervisor relationship with intelligent supervision man-
The Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI) is a fully functioning case management tool and assessment that measures the risk and need fac-
confirms the enrollee’s identity. Test results, photos and GPS location points report into VeriTracks using nationwide cellular service. When combined with STOP’s other equipment, officers need to learn only one system. www.stopllc.com, 1.832.553.9500
tors of late adolescent and adult offenders. The LS/CMI is the most widely used risk/needs assessment in the world. www.mhs.com, 1.800.456.3003
SoberTrack allows supervising officers to test an enrollee’s breath alcohol content at any time of the day or night and in any location. The hand-held breath alcohol-testing device also receives GPS location points giving officers greater information about the enrollee’s location during a test. The built-in camera 40 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
Journal Technologies supplies case management software and products to courts, prosecutors, public defenders, probation and other justice agencies. They serve over 500 courts and agencies in 42 states and three countries. Their configurable, browser-based solutions do not require clients to change processes to fit the product. Instead, they work with them to configure the system to
agement services and a client-facing mobile app to improve client accountability and lower FTAs. Catalyst’s automated event notifications ensure clients are aware of their obligations. Required acknowledgements provide a record, without extra data entry. Catalyst’s triggered prompts alert officers to stay apprised of critical events. www.cfive.com, 1.949.260.3002
The Northpointe Suite is an automated decision-support software package of industry-leading risk, needs assessment and case management tools. The instruVISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
ments address the complex set of risk, need and case management considerations that improve decision accuracy in custody, supervision and programming based on underlying criminogenic needs. The solution is an integrated web-based assessment and case management system for criminal justice practitioners who must make decisions regarding community placement, supervision, treatment and case-management of offenders. www.equivant.com, 1.800.406.4333
The IN-HOM S.M.A.R.T. Mobile has programmable testing windows to easily adapt to any monitoring program. The device will also accept a test any time
Intoxalock is an industry leader on advanced technology ignition interlock devices. Available with camera verifica-
Corrisoft’s Alternative to Incarceration via Rehabilitation (AIR) program combines a customized smartphone with a webbased management platform in order to both deliver proactive communication capabilities and serve as a tool that more efficiently facilitates support resources. The Air program affords community supervision agencies with the ability to engage in real-time, two-way communications with clients. Simply put, this means case managers and supervision officers can call participants at any time without having to worry about disconnected phones, inactive wireless plans, or prepaid phones with no remaining minutes. In addition, AIR’s use of smartphone technology provides agencies with a more efficient approach to supervising and interacting with clients. www.corrisoft.com, 1.800.247.1551 42 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
for multiple drug groups simultaneously. Fingerprint sample collection takes five seconds with results in under 10 minutes. The two-part system comprises: Intelligent Fingerprinting Cartridge—a small, tamper-evident, fingerprint sample collection cartridge that screens for four groups of drugs: amphetamines, cocaine, opiates and cannabis and the Intelligent Fingerprinting Reader 1000, which is a portable, touchscreen-operated unit that analyzes the fingerprint sample, providing a positive or negative result for each drug in the test. https://smartox.com, 1.888.711.9906
the user or monitoring authority desires. With its new streamlined design, the G2 provides effortless transportation and storage for those on the go or stay-at-home. www.smartstartinc.com, 1.800.880.3394
Smartox’s fingerprint-based Drug Screening System is noninvasive, dignified and screens
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IMAGE COURTESY OF THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS-TIMES SQUARE
tion, GPS tracking and real-time reporting, Intoxalock’s eLERT device is ideal for courts that require or recommend advanced technology. Courts and monitoring authorities can also require pre-scheduled random testing intervals with the eLERT device in order to enforce complete sobriety. www.Intoxalock.com, 1.888.283.5899
Buddi US’s Smart Tag is a onepiece tracking device that features 3G GSM communication, thus providing vastly improved coverage compared to 2G, according to the firm. It also features their ground breaking Convergent Location Technology that provides full time indoor tracking. The
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APPA’s Training Institute will take place in August in New York City.
Smart Tag continuously records indoor points to supplement GPS and provides minute-by-minute location information indoors and in urban canyons, greatly reducing gaps in location information when GPS is unavailable. www.buddi.us, 1.844.283.3487
CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017 43
BY BILL SCHIFFNER, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Correctional Mental Health Care Conference Draws Crowds in Las Vegas
NEARLY 400
mental health professionals turned out for National Commission on Correctional Health Care Correctional Mental Health Care Conference held July 30-31 at Bally’s Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The NCCHC Conference provided a unique opportunity for correctional health professionals to convene with peers and experts in the field, exchange ideas and discuss solutions for mental health issues and the latest practices in correctional settings. The conference offered two full days of focused mental health discussions, 30 educational sessions and a special networking event, in addition to many new product and services for the corrections health care industry. 44 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
Restoration Program
Xylitol Disposable Toothbrush
Wexford Health’s nationally recognized Restoration to Competency program provides the specialized expertise and proven protocols needed to
A pre–pasted disposable Xylitol toothbrush from Oraline is designed to provide convenient
restore your detainees to competency for trial. The jail-based program enables defendants to lawfully stand trial, while making best use of a county’s budget and time. They report their restoration rates are as high as 79%, saving the agency approximately 50% of the average cost of an inpatient psychiatric admission. www.wexfordhealth.com, 1.888.633.6468
access to cost-effective, clinicallyfocused preventive oral care. Have the complete solution to patient oral care needs incorporated into a single convenient product. www.oraline.net, 1.888.296.6730
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Telepsychiatry Care InnovaTel was established to provide timely access to quality psychiatric care via a secure video platform. InnovaTel provides psychiatric coverage to community mental health centers, correctional facilities, integrated primary care organizations and other health care organizations. The company founders, recognizing the significant shortage of psychiatrists and the increasing demand for care, established InnovaTel to serve this national need. In 2016, the National Council for Behavioral Health named InnovaTel its strategic partner for telepsychiatry. www.intelpsych.com, 1.866.492.7597
Health and Medical Services MHM Correctional Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of MHM Services, Inc. MHM and its
subsidiaries are under contract with correctional systems nationwide to provide a wide range of behavioral health, medical specialty and comprehensive medical services. In 2017, MHM provides services on site to over 350 facilities in 17 states nationwide. www.mhm-services.com, 1.800.416.3649
Opioid Dependence Care VIVITROL (naltrexone for extended-release injectable suspension) is a once-monthly medication for the treatment of alcohol dependence as well as for the prevention of relapse to opioid dependence, following opioid detoxification. VIVITROL is the first and only non-narcotic, nonaddictive, once-monthly medication approved for the treatment of opioid dependence. Treatment with VIVITROL is also part of a 46 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
comprehensive management program that includes psychosocial support. www.alkermes.com, 1.781.609.6000
Healthcare Programs NaphCare provides a proactive approach to health care programs for correctional facilities ranging
from comprehensive health care, on-site dialysis, off-site management, in-house pharmacy and TechCare, their electronic health record (EHR) clinical operational tool. www.naphcare.com, 1.800.834.8400
Offender Management Solutions Marquis Software has released Version 5 of their award-winning electronic Offender Management Information System (eOMIS). Version 5 of Marquis’ eOMIS EHR
earned the Joint Commission’s Seal of Approval. www.staffcare.com, 1.800. 685.2272
Correctional Health Care Services The California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) ensures that a constitutional level of medical care is delivered to those incarcerated in California prisons. It was established to oversee and provide timely access to quality health care in all state-
operated California adult correctional institutions. The CCHCS will be recruiting at the conference and are seeking dedicated correctional health care professionals to provide this essential health care to their diverse patient population. They offer a positive work-life balance and state of California benefits with 35 locations. www.cphcs.ca.gov, 1.916.691.3000
Dry Mouth Toothpaste
went live statewide at the Colorado DOC in January 2017. This latest version includes significant enhancements including a new user interface, enhanced graphics and expanded functionality. End users can configure their personal view, experience improved navigation, and enjoy increased visualization of data. www.marquisware.com, 1.850.877.8864
Staffing Solutions Staff Care has helped health care facilities achieve their patient-care, staffing and financial goals for over 20 years, placing physicians, CRNAs, PAs, NPs and dentists across all specialties and practice types. Staff Care has
USA-made mint toothpaste from Oraline is designed to address the destructive effects of medicationinduced dry mouth. Daily application helps stimulate saliva production, which assists in remineralization and reduced plaque buildup. This product is ideal for the multiple medication environment of a prison and provides a systematic alternative to multi-product solutions (sprays, candies). www.oraline.net, 1.888.296.6730
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Continued from page 32 tee a clean, sanitized product. “Environmental factors are the most challenging obstacles food service faces in any facility,” she furthers. “Making sure your ventilation is set up correctly can have a huge impact downstream on other pieces of equipment in the kitchen. Allowing the manufacturer to help coordinate installation is a best practice that can alleviate a lot of future problems.” As demand grows for green benefits, increased cost savings, and simplified labor practices, the CLeN warewasher helps customers meet those requirements, observes Tim Peters, product line manager for Hobart. The Pot & Pan mode extends wash times, reducing the need for pre-soaking. Drain Water Energy Recovery models provide up to 20 percent
energy savings over previous series by capturing the heat from exiting drain water and using it to heat the incoming cold water prior to sending it to the booster heater, reducing hot water usage up to 90 percent, he details. Automatic Soil Removal actively removes what was missed during pre-scrapping. This keeps the wash water cleaner for longer periods of time, thus saving costs of chemicals, water and energy. A programmable de-lime alert reduces unnecessary de-liming, saving money spent on chemicals and extending the life of the machine. Food Warming Equipment Company solutions for corrections are, for the most part, custom to order and heavy duty. “We have several packages that cover more than a dozen points of customized security,” relates
Decision matrix for optimal meal delivery system as presented in the JonesZylon white paper at: www. joneszylon.com/blog/corrections/.
Martin Szalay, Marketing. Each facility may require some or all of these Heavy Duty-Modified solutions, covering common and unique requests. “Addressing requirements, logistics, compliance, and security such as latches, tamper-proof screws, locking guards and specialized handles are taken into consideration.” Adds Szalay: “As durable as the correctional models are, simple maintenance without using caustic cleaners or complex apparatus, is a no-cost method that can do wonders for maintaining the lifecycle and integrity of any piece of equipment. And, registering your warranty as soon as possible and understanding what is covered is very important. “Correctional equipment does take a beating and inevitably replacements and upgrades will be required.”
Private Label Cost-cutting
Ramsey County Community Corrections’ vocational training. VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
To upgrade food and keep costs down, “Whenever possible, we try to develop products in our private label brand,” says Union Supply Group’s Debbi Drewry, director of Marketing. “These help to provide a lower-priced item with the same quality and taste as a national-branded item.” Union recently launched four private label Pancho’s Cantina items (two beef crumbles, shredded beef and roast beef in gravy) that provide high-quality beef products at a value and are Halal certified to help meet the needs of religious requests. “We are always CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017 47
Third-party testing of Cambro Food Pan and Seal Covers shows extended shelf life of produce by two to three days beyond foils and wraps.
trying to develop products for food enjoyment and our recent private label launch has done just that,” she says, referring to their new release, the Back Country Quarter Pound Beef Burger. Cooking from “scratch,” that is with the most elementary of ingredients, adds value. “Our recipes focus on scratch cooking as much as possible, based on the capabilities of the equipment and space within each unit,” says Brian J. Caspari, vice president of Business Development, Summit Food Service. “Additionally, we offer vocational training programs for inmates to learn proper food preparation and cooking in order to gain experience that can be used after their release. By leveraging inmate labor and focusing on scratch-made food, we are able to increase the food quality and oftentimes the overall cost. We challenge our teams to think creatively and prepare innovative meals by using the ingredients they have available. “By reinforcing a positive good behavior, staff is able to escort inmates in movement rather than force them from location to location,” Caspari says. “These programs are best when they are more holistically implemented, meaning inmates can purchase certain items for themselves and other items can be purchased by their friends and family via vendor-supported websites. When these programs can be tied to retail training in the 48 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
kitchen for the inmates in a vocational program, then they take on a level of impact that benefits the facility in multiple ways, from behavior to training that can be used to help some find employment once released.”
Managing Complexities “Food service is a multi-faceted business,” notes Karen Cutler, Aramark, VP Corporate Communications. Add in the complexity of an offender workforce, limited kitchen tools and tight cost constraints and you quickly realize that correctional food service is extremely complicated.” Investing time in advance to understand these dynamics improves outcomes from the very beginning. She says Aramark also invests a great deal of time, money and resources into training team members on how to navigate a correctional environment. Its SHIELD training program focuses on workplace safety, avoiding offender manipulation and educates on corrections-specific topics such as PREA. Additionally, all employees must be re-certified annually by taking a SHIELD capstone course. Cutler sums it up, saying: “We
think it’s important to think of offenders as consumers. Although they may have made poor choices that resulted in their incarceration, it doesn’t mean that they have forgotten what quality food tastes like. But, whether you’re rehabilitation focused and understand that humane treatment improves inmate esteem which reduces recidivism, or custody focused and recognize that satisfied inmates cost you less in incidents and staff retention, improving food quality at your facility makes good financial sense.” ✪ For more information, contact: Food Warming Equipment Co., www.fwe.com, 800.222.4393 Insinger Machine Company, www.insingermachine.com, 215.624.4800 Hobart, hobartcorp.com, 888.378.1338 JonesZylon, www.joneszylon.com, rzachrich@joneszylon.com, 800.848.8160 Union Supply Group, www.unionsupplygroup.com, 310. 604.4626 Aramark, www.aramark.com/corrections Cambro Manufacturing, www.cambro.com, 800.833.3003 Aggregated Menu Power, Rick Pedi, 847.323.5571 Summit Food Service, wwwsummitfood service.com, 888.872.3788
Insinger Machine Company makes the only National Science Foundationapproved tray washer, here showing the Trac RPW with security package. VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET
Continued from page 38
AD INDEX Page No.
Cross-Enhanced Backscatter Autoclear’s breakthrough approach to backscatter threat detection combines the most effective elements of ultra-low dose multi-energy and backscatter X-ray technology for rapid, user-friendly automatic threat detection. Autoclear backscatter systems produce on-screen images of concealed threats that facilitate more rapid and confident detection. http://a-clear.com/technologies, 1.800.231.6414 or sales@a-clear.com
Body Screener The SafeView is a millimeter wave personnel screener that quickly creates a 3-D black-andwhite image of the subject being scanned. The system’s imaging tools enable trained analysts to locate a broad range of threats and contraband–both metallic and non-metallic. It offers
advanced imaging—without health risks. SafeView does not use X-rays or ionizing radiation. www.L3T.com/sds, 781.939.3800
Correctional Health Care Corizon Health, a member of the Valitas Health Services corporate family, provides quality health care services to states and municipalities across the country,
offering the only comprehensive solution for physical care, behavioral care and pharmaceutical services. With its corporate headquarters in Brentwood, Tenn., Corizon Health is the leading provider of correctional health care services in the United States. The company will be exhibiting their latest programs for the corrections market on the ACA Show floor. www.corizonhealth.com, 1.800.729.0069
Electronic Typewriter The 2640 Swintec E l e c t r o n i c Typewriter gives a smart collection of characters to even the most demanding office environments. From its space-saving design to its 40character LCD display, users will have everything they need to get the job done right. It comes in a Clear Cabinet version for the corrections industry. www.swintec.com, 1.800.225.0867
Alkermes.............................. 8 AUTOCLEAR/Control Screening....................... 16 Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp................. 23 Bob Barker......................... 51 California Coast University......................... 4 CEIA, USA...........................15 Centurian/MHM Services.... 2 Corizon Health.................... 7 Endur ID Incorporated...... 38 Guardian RFID................... 17 Imperial Fastener...............39 Institutional Eye Care, LLC........................50 Jones-Zylon ....................... 29 Keefe Group...................... 52 Medi-Dose Company.........33 MHS Assessments.............. 41 NaphCare...........................36 NTOA................................. 35 Pellerin Milnor................... 37 Point Blank Industries......... 5 Schedule Anywhere / Atlas Business.................50 Securus Technologies........ 21 Sentry Security Fasteners, Inc.................................. 45 StunCuff Enterprises, Inc...16 STV Architects, Inc...............4 Swintec Corporation......... 26 Tidal Wave Telecom...........43 Time Keeping Systems, Inc................... 13 TriActive America.................6 TrinityServices Group, Inc. 31 Western Union...................25 Wexford Health Sources....19 This advertisers index is provided as a service to our readers only. The publisher does not assume liability for errors or omissions.
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CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017 49
COMPLETE EYEGLASSES
$14.95
RX Eyeglasses On-Site Optometry On-Site Ophthalmology Testing
Maximum Security Colored Razor Blade
The green blade makes it easier to inspect! Increases the safety in the facility by reducing the potential for razor blade related incidents
With Swintec’s speciallydesigned, Clear Cabinet Typewriters you will: • Avoid wasted time and added hassles of inspection • Eliminate potential product damage during disassembly for inspection • Save on costly repairs and reimbursements • Reduce confiscations and paperwork • Prevent future contraband Discover why federal and state correctional facilities in almost every state put their trust in Swintec.
www.swintec.com 1000 Facilities Nationwide 44 States - Federal in all 50 States Correctional Vision Care Since 1983
1-800-334-9880 www.bobbarker.com
Institutional Eye Care LLC website: institutionaleyecare.com email: info@ institutionaleyecare.com
Waterproof Weighted Blankets Reduce Anxiety & Stress Weighted with hypoallergenic and non-toxic polypropylene pellets. Helps improve focus, ease transitions, and reduce irritability.
1-800-334-9880 www.bobbarker.com
50 CORRECTIONS FORUM • JULY/AUGUST 2017
VISIT US AT WWW.CORRECTIONSFORUM.NET