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Honor program for lifers abolished at penitentiary
FORT MADISON (AP) - An honors program for convicts serving life in prison at the Iowa State Penitentiary has been abolished, prompting 40 inmates to file grievances in protest.
The program, in place at the Fort Madison prison since 1975, gives extra privileges to 44 inmates who had displayed hard work and good conduct. The inmates all had been convicted of crimes that include murder, sexual assault and kidnapping.
The program was scrapped last month after some inmates housed in the honor lifer unit tested positive for illegal drugs, said Fred Scaletta, a corrections department spokesman, in a copyright story in The Des Moines Register.
There also have been other security breaches, and the decision by warden John Ault came after a review of prison security.
Prison spokesman Ron Welder said the honor program was replaced with a new system that rewards good behavior, but some of the privileges previously granted to honor lifers were eliminated.
The abolished privileges include an annual banquet with visitors that was paid for by inmates; semiprivate visits with friends and family in a windowed office; letting inmates choose the paint color in their cell; and permitting leathercraft tools and sports gear in cells.
The move prompted 40 inmates to file grievances that could lead to a lawsuit.
Jean Basinger of Des Moines, a leader of the prison activist group Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants, said the inmates believe abolishing the honor program is a mistake that could hurt prison security.
“This program has provided real stability down there at the prison,” Basinger said. “It has been an incentive for them to behave and to be role models for the rest of the prison population, especially for the young people.”
She said the inmates contend the problems involving illegal drugs involved just one prisoner and that they are being punished for one person's alleged violations.
Sen. Eugene Fraise, D-Fort Madison, said he plans to ask prison officials about the decision.
“This sounds like some kid breaking a window at school and every kid in the class gets penalized for it,” said Fraise, vice chairman of a prison budget subcommittee. “I don't think that's a good idea.”
Scaletta said the decision is intended to improve safety at the maximum-security prison.
“The people who are in this program are not really what we would consider violent people, but at the same time there is that potential,” Scaletta said. “Basically, what Warden Ault is doing is making it safer for everybody by taking out things that could potentially be a security risk.”
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Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
The program, in place at the Fort Madison prison since 1975, gives extra privileges to 44 inmates who had displayed hard work and good conduct. The inmates all had been convicted of crimes that include murder, sexual assault and kidnapping.
The program was scrapped last month after some inmates housed in the honor lifer unit tested positive for illegal drugs, said Fred Scaletta, a corrections department spokesman, in a copyright story in The Des Moines Register.
There also have been other security breaches, and the decision by warden John Ault came after a review of prison security.
Prison spokesman Ron Welder said the honor program was replaced with a new system that rewards good behavior, but some of the privileges previously granted to honor lifers were eliminated.
The abolished privileges include an annual banquet with visitors that was paid for by inmates; semiprivate visits with friends and family in a windowed office; letting inmates choose the paint color in their cell; and permitting leathercraft tools and sports gear in cells.
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Jean Basinger of Des Moines, a leader of the prison activist group Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants, said the inmates believe abolishing the honor program is a mistake that could hurt prison security.
“This program has provided real stability down there at the prison,” Basinger said. “It has been an incentive for them to behave and to be role models for the rest of the prison population, especially for the young people.”
She said the inmates contend the problems involving illegal drugs involved just one prisoner and that they are being punished for one person's alleged violations.
Sen. Eugene Fraise, D-Fort Madison, said he plans to ask prison officials about the decision.
“This sounds like some kid breaking a window at school and every kid in the class gets penalized for it,” said Fraise, vice chairman of a prison budget subcommittee. “I don't think that's a good idea.”
Scaletta said the decision is intended to improve safety at the maximum-security prison.
“The people who are in this program are not really what we would consider violent people, but at the same time there is that potential,” Scaletta said. “Basically, what Warden Ault is doing is making it safer for everybody by taking out things that could potentially be a security risk.”
---
Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
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