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Thread on the impact of the lack of communication/transparency at the South Dakota Department of Corrections regarding coronavirus. Also a quick update on new coronavirus prevention measures in prisons:
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First the prevention measures. Staff have been required to wear masks for a while now. Now prisoners are being given masks that they have to wear most of the times they're out of their cells. They also have access to hand sanitizer in common spaces. https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/doc-gives-masks-makes-hand-sanitizer-available-to-inmates/article_2ce885b1-926d-5552-98aa-d795d0db15e7.html
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I haven't found any other state besides Michigan that is giving masks to prisoners. Does anyone know of other ones? The masks for workers and prisoners are being made by inmate workers who are paid 25-50 cents an hour.
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Now to the lack of transparency. The DOC is sharing when prisoners get COVID-19 (Two have so far) and I assume they would announce when workers get it too. The DOC told me no workers have it.
https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/lack-of-transparency-from-doc-causing-anxiety-among-inmates-families/article_f6133468-f95b-5d96-a143-5ddae61938a0.html
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https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/lack-of-transparency-from-doc-causing-anxiety-among-inmates-families/article_f6133468-f95b-5d96-a143-5ddae61938a0.html
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But the DOC is not sharing or confirming how many inmates are being tested+going into quarantine. This leads to confusion+rumors for inmates who see ppl going into quarantine but don't know what that means. There's been rumors of positive cases shared with family+media
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A state politician and a woman whose husband is in prison both wondered why the DOC won't share this info and argue it could be calming for prisoners+their family to know that people ARE being tested.
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Some state prison systems have detailed information about quarantines, tests and results. The best I've seen is Ohio which breaks down this info by prison and by inmates and workers.
https://www.drc.ohio.gov/Portals/0/DRC%20COVID-19%20Information%2004-26-2020%201244-1_1.pdf
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https://www.drc.ohio.gov/Portals/0/DRC%20COVID-19%20Information%2004-26-2020%201244-1_1.pdf
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Let's also compare the SD DOC's FAQ page (which it didn't add until April 20) to Wisconsin's page. Wisconsin's page is like an essay, extremely long and detailed.
https://doc.sd.gov/documents/COVID19FrequentQuestions4202020B.pdf
https://doc.wi.gov/Pages/COVID19(Coronavirus)/FAQS/COVID19FAQs.aspx
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https://doc.sd.gov/documents/COVID19FrequentQuestions4202020B.pdf
https://doc.wi.gov/Pages/COVID19(Coronavirus)/FAQS/COVID19FAQs.aspx
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The people I spoke with said they understand that security needs limits the amount of info the DOC can share about prison policy but questioned why they can't give more information about for certain situations, like if an outbreak were to occur.
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When I've asked questions like this and the DOC doesn't want to answer them, the have standard reply about how they are following all CDC-guidelines.
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A final problem is the DOC spokesman (who is a very nice man I've met in person and is usually very helpful) has been working from home and is not handing out any phone number to contact him. Emails can take 12 or 24+ hours to be answered and sometimes they go unanswered.
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My view is that more transparency is better for everyone. More info online means less calls from family+ the media, and therefore less work for the DOC. Sharing info also means less anxiety from inmates+their families, which can improve the prison environment for all.
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. @DaniFergs at the Argus Leader also wrote about the lack of data sharing and lag in response time.
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/04/17/south-dakota-department-corrections-wont-say-how-many-inmates-tested-coronavirus/2993583001/
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https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/04/17/south-dakota-department-corrections-wont-say-how-many-inmates-tested-coronavirus/2993583001/
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