Public Meeting Notice  Special Commission to Study LGBTQI Inmate Health and Safety Meeting

Special Commission to Study LGBTQI Health and Safety

When: February 9, 2022

Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm

Where: Via Microsoft Teams

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order once a quorum of members was established at 11:03am.

Members Present:

Co-Chair Mitzi Peterson

Co-Chair Pamela Klein

Attorney Elizabeth Matos

Attorney Jennifer Levi

Michael Cox

Sheriff Patrick Cahillane

Honorable David Mills

Members Absent:

Casey Lepisto

Co-Chair Peterson made a motion to accept the January 12^th minutes, the motion was seconded by Co-Chair Klein. The motion carried and the minutes were approved unanimously.

Draft MOU

Co-Chair Klein gave a brief overview of the draft MOU that is with Harvard University. The MOU is an agreement granting permission to share collected information with the group of students. Harvard will be allowed to analyze the data and produce a streamlined summary recommending policy noting that no one will be receiving compensation.

Sheriff Cahillane motioned to accept the MOU, Michael Cox seconded the motion. The motion carried and the MOU was approved unanimously. It was decided that Co-Chair Peterson or Co-Chair Klein will sign the MOU.

House of Correction Tour

The Commission discussed and selected dates in which the Commission would be able to visit Plymouth County Corrections. The commission selected the 3^rd and 10^th of March as possible dates, those dates will be submitted, and the commission will be updated accordingly.

Department of Correction Tour Scheduling

Co-Chair Peterson will be scheduling the tours for later in February at the Farm in Concord, MA with the hope of continuing the tour at MCI Concord. Flyers will be submitted to the individuals at Concord before February 14^th to allow folks adequate time to decide if they would like to be interviewed by the commission. There will be a follow-up to determine who is able to visit specific sites.

Member Comment 

Michael and Sheriff Cahillane provided the commission with an update of their work with the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is currently working with formally incarcerated individuals to provide bail support, Housing, job training, in hopes of creating a pipeline to assist formally incarcerated individuals integrate back into society.

Sheriff Cahillane informed the commission that he has converted a 34 bed facility to the Rocky Hill Re-entry Collaborative that looks to assist members of the community that have been recently paroled. The goal of the program is to provide individuals with an option for those who do not a solid home- plan or are awaiting a bed in a program. The house will provide job re-entry assistance as well as connecting the individual to LGBTQ businesses within the area. Individuals will also be connected with medical, mental health and provided with transitional assistance if needed. The individuals that are currently employed at Rocky-Hill have experience operating Homeless shelters or have experience in social work. The Parole Officers check-in weekly, and the residents are responsible for daily tasks around the home as well.

Honorable Mills extended his immense gratitude to be a member of the commission and thanked all the members for the extensive support and work they do not only in the commission but within the community as well.

Dr. Rhiana Kohl provided an updated regarding data collection within the DOC. Definitions were created and were promulgated an update within the inmate management system. Currently there is no questions regarding sexual orientation during the screening process. The system was updated in December 2021 and training was given to employees on January 10^th, 2022 and data collection has been collected since.

Data collection is being acquired at various points in the intake process, all staff that is on the frontline of asking these questions have been properly trained on how to pose the question with no bias or preconceived notions. In the creation of the updated system they implemented as much self-report as possible as it yields the most accurate information. There is a field when “Other” is selected the system with prompt the DOC Employee to enter in further information. This information is more difficult to compile to produce data however the hope is that by reviewing the manual information the DOC will be able to further expand the questions and selections.

Public Comment

No comments were entered by members of the Public.

Adjourn

Attorney Levi moves to adjourn, the motion was seconded by Co-Chair Klein. The motion was carried and the meeting adjourned at 12:16pm. 

Special Commission to Study LGBTQI Health and Safety

When: February 9, 2022

Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm

Where: Via Microsoft Teams

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Agenda

1. Call to Order
2. Draft MOU
3. HOC Tour
4. DOC Tour Scheduling
5. Member Comment
6. Public Comment
7. Adjourn