Today, July 15, 2014, Senator Hollis French held a Hearing on the recent inmate deaths. Commissioner Schmidt and Laura Brooks (DOC Deputy Director of Admin. Services) spoke first, followed by Jeff Jesse (begins at 37:00) of the Mental Health Trust Authority, ACOA (59:25), and finally family members from two of the deceased inmates (80:50 & 87:50).

The focus of the Hearing was on how to prevent future inmate deaths. Brad spoke for about 15 minutes on various topics including Correctional Officer staffing concerns, the 2010 Legislative Audit on staffing, having a new independent review into the Department, and the DOC’s use of Officer Jacobsen as a scapegoat in the Keyes’ suicide.

Commissioner Schmidt’s testimony was interesting to say the least. We will have more on these issues later but wanted to post this as soon as possible.

We would like to thank all the Officers who showed up to the Hearing to support ACOA’s testimony.

 

 

Recent Articles Concerning the DOC

Price tag is steep for anyone hoping to find out how Alaska corrections officials investigate prisoner deaths (July 13, 2104)

The untold story behind Israel Keyes’ jailhouse suicide (July 15, 2104)