Missouri Department of Corrections Archives

Missouri prison system could move officer training from classroom to real-world setting

February 22, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

In 2019, Gov. Mike Parson closed a prison in northwest Missouri’s Cameron. Most staff and inmates transferred to the other prison in town – Western Missouri Correctional Center. Now, Parson wants to reopen the Crossroads Correctional Center and turn it into a training academy for correctional officers.

Gov. Mike Parson

During a House Budget Committee hearing, Trevor Foley with the state Department of Corrections, says the officers would have a better sense of the surroundings they would be in.

“Currently, all of our institutional staff receive their training in a classroom setting,” says Foley. “We believe that we can improve the quality of our training by training them in an environment that looks like the one they’re going to be working in. You’d be able to learn how to do a cell search or a cell extraction from an actual cell.”

Joplin Republican Representative Lane Roberts, a former Missouri Department of Public Safety Director, says he wholeheartedly endorses the plan.

“The idea is to give the officers basically a real setting experience, so that when they do find themselves faced with this, they will know not only what to do but have some sense of the surroundings they’ll be operating in. For whatever it’s worth, I have to tell you I think this is an excellent use of any of our surplus,” says Roberts.

The proposal is part of the governor’s $34.1 billion budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning in July.

Foley thinks the return on investment would be net positive within five years.

“A significant portion of the expenses of our training operations are lodging for staff that have to go to one of our three regional centers. We believe that by converting one of the housing units at the facility to residential space, the trainings will be able to stay on site and that will significantly reduce our lodging costs,” says Foley.

The Missouri prison system’s construction crew would make the renovations.

The governor’s budget proposal also includes a 2% pay increase for state workers beginning next January.

“Historically, retention has been a problem. That is why the department had our retention pay plan two years. What we have really seen in the last year has been a significant struggle in recruiting new people into the class. So, this is designed to move the entry level salaries up to aid in recruitment,” says Foley.

The fiscal plan would give an additional 2% pay increase for three cook classes and an extra 3% salary boost for three custody classes, beginning next January.

Parson’s budget proposal would close half of housing units within Missouri women’s prison

February 18, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The women’s prison in northeast Missouri’s Vandalia could have about half of its housing units permanently closed. Trevor Foley, with the state Department of Corrections (DOC), says Gov. Mike Parson’s new state budget proposal would make the change. Gov. Parson’s proposed $34.1 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning in July includes about $802 million for the Department of Corrections.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on December 2, 2020 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

During a state House Budget Committee hearing this week, he says some of the inmates at the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia have already been transferred to the women’s prison in northwest Missouri’s Chillicothe.

“No one has lost their jobs, there’s been no layoffs,” he says. “And we have significant capacity in our female beds. Our other female institution is probably arguably our best staffed institution in the state. So, we were able to consolidate spots into that facility and close roughly half of this one.”

Karen Pojmann, spokeswoman for the department, tells Missourinet the Vandalia prison has been battling major staffing shortages. The change makes the environment safer for staff and inmates.

Missouri’s current women’s prison population is about 1,800 but the state has the capacity to hold about 3,000. The Vandalia institution’s current population is roughly 772. Chillicothe Correctional Center’s is about 1,050.

Within the past year, the clothing factory at the Vandalia prison was also closed and is in the process of moving to a men’s prison in eastern Missouri’s Pacific.

Vocational (career and tech) education programs, higher education programs and special programs will continue at Vandalia. Adult basic education, special education and high school equivalency test preparation will be offered only at Chillicothe.

“Essentially, this means Vandalia won’t house women who haven’t yet earned high school diplomas. The primary reason for this change isn’t related to cost saving; it’s driven by the difficulty in filling academic teacher positions in the Vandalia area. Because we have space at Chillicothe, it’s much more efficient to move women who need adult basic education to a location where the services are sustainable and staff are available,” says Pojmann.

The full year savings from the permanent closure of 981 general population beds at Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correction Center in Vandalia is $5.4 million and 95 full-time equivalent jobs. The department wants the savings, along with other savings the department has found, to be reinvested in:

• Pay plans – market minimums for DOC staff and a DOC recruitment increase the governor announced in his State of the State address

• An expansion of the Division of Probation & Parole’s Officer Safety and Arrest Pilot program, including training and equipment for probation and parole officers

• Conversion of the former Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron into a training academy, where custody staff can train in a setting similar to the setting in which they’ll be working

• A learning management system for staff training, using online modules

• An expansion of the department’s heavy equipment crew. The crew members complete construction projects within the prison system.

Pojmann says temporary housing unit closures for maintenance projects and staffing shortages may continue as needed, but she says there are no other permanent closures planned.

The Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia opened in 1998.

Missouri could soon catch up on its jail reimbursement debt

February 18, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson’s FY2022 state budget proposal requests $58 million in hopes of getting Missouri completely out of debt in county jail reimbursements. For years, the state has not designated enough funding to pay counties and the city of St. Louis for part of a defendant’s entire local jail stay if the individual ends up going to state prison. Over the past couple years, the Missouri Legislature has been working to dig the state out of this hole.

Missouri Capitol (Photo courtesy of Alisa Nelson, Missourinet)

Missouri is the only known U.S. state that pays its counties and the city of St. Louis for pre-sentencing jail costs.

During a House Budget Committee hearing Wednesday, Trevor Foley, with the Missouri Department of Corrections, says the governor’s budget request would help the program catch up on overdue jail bills.

“That projection is based on looking at FY20 and the first two quarters of FY21 and then factoring in a COVID bounce back basically for the requests for reimbursement to go back up a little bit. And hopefully by the end of FY22, we will have the arrearage gone,” says Foley. “I will point out that this is a very volatile program. In FY21, we received $52 million in total requests. In FY20, we received $39 million in total requests. It is very difficult to project what we are going to receive in requests from a year-to-year basis.”

The state currently pays county jails about $22.58 per day, but the county’s overall daily cost to house a defendant is much higher. Karen Pojmann, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, tells Missourinet the Missouri Sheriff’s Association conducted a survey a year ago and reported to the State Auditor that the actual cost ranged from $25.45 to $110 per day, with an average of $49 per day.

Rep. Peggy McGaugh, R-Carrollton, says she wants the state to pick up more of the local tab.

“The actual cost to house a prisoner is an average of $60 a day,” she says. “So, they go in the hole, every prisoner, every day, all year long. I would like to see that change.”

The governor’s request would also cover certain costs to transfer those offenders.

Previous stories:

Is Missouri sending the right people to prison? https://www.missourinet.com/2017/08/03/is-missouri-sending-the-right-people-to-prison/

(VIDEO) State owes counties $19 million in jail payments; Missouri sheriff feels the pain: https://www.missourinet.com/2017/09/25/video-state-owes-counties-19-million-in-jail-payments-missouri-sheriff-feels-the-pain/

Missouri falls six months behind in paying county jail bills: https://www.missourinet.com/2017/10/02/missouri-falls-six-months-behind-in-paying-county-jail-bills/

Legislator thinks Missouri should overhaul county jail payment system: https://www.missourinet.com/2017/10/09/legislator-thinks-missouri-should-overhaul-county-jail-payment-system/

Friday and Monday are both Missouri state holidays

February 11, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Many state employees will be off on both Friday and Monday for Lincoln and Washington’s Birthday. Lincoln’s Birthday is Friday, while Washington’s Birthday is Monday.

Both are Missouri state and county holidays, and Washington’s Birthday is a federal holiday as well. County courthouses will be closed both days.

Most state employees will have both days off, with the exception of emergency services such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Corrections officers will be working in state prisons, and crews from the state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will likely be treating roads.

There are 13 state holidays this year, because New Year’s Day will be celebrated on December 31 this year. That’s a Friday.

Missouri prison system experiences significant drop in COVID-19 cases

February 8, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

In early December, the Missouri Department of Corrections began installing 1,400 air purifying devices and using disinfectant sprayers within the prison system. Since then, department spokesperson Karen Pojmann tells Missourinet the number of coronavirus cases has fallen by 80%.

The agency reports 7,612 staff and inmates have been infected with the virus since last spring – 147, or 0.4%, are active cases. Pojmann says most facilities have 0-4 active cases.

Missouri prison system experiences significant drop in COVID-19 cases

“The only prisons with more than four cases are the reception and diagnostic centers, where COVID-positive offenders are being sent from county jails, a situation that, unfortunately, is out of our control,” says Pojmann.

Forty-two prisoners and six employees have died from the virus. The rest have recovered.

Missouri’s prison population consists of about 23,000 offenders within 22 institutions.

The state is using federal stimulus dollars to pay for the $1 million cost of the air purifying devices, disinfectant machines, and materials that go along with them.

Pojmann says the state has also begun vaccinating staff and all of its facilities are ready to start vaccinating offenders in Phase 1B-Tier 2 (over 65 and/or with serious medical conditions) as soon as a supply is available; more than one-third of offenders are eligible in this tier. A vaccination event is being held Monday for staff at Algoa Correctional Center, Jefferson City Correctional Center, Probation and Parole offices in Jefferson City, and maybe for some in the central office.

The state is also testing the wastewater at all prison facilities, and Pojmann says COVID-19 in wastewater has declined to undetectable levels at nearly every site.

Four alleged members of Gangster Disciples from southeast Missouri in custody, under federal indictment

January 25, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The Justice Department has announced arrests and federal indictments against seven alleged members of the Gangster Disciples gang for a years-long conspiracy that involves alleged murders and other crimes. Four of the seven are from southeast Missouri.

The indictments were unsealed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

“The long list of violent crimes alleged in this indictment- including two murders and multiple violent assaults- make plain the threat to our communities posed by criminal organizations like the Gangster Disciples,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division says, in a written statement.

Four southeast Missourians are under federal indictment: 50-year-old Sean Clemon, 28-year-old Dominque Maxwell and 29-year-old Perry Harris, all of Cape Girardeau. They are charged with RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering and related firearms crimes.

44-year-old Barry Boyce of Charleston, an alleged gang member, is charged with RICO conspiracy.

Federal prosecutors allege that Clemon, Maxwell and Harris killed Leroy Allen during an April 2018 Gangster Disciples meeting in eastern Missouri’s Bridgeton.

The indictment alleges that after Allen was killed, Clemon, Maxwell and Harris were promoted to state leadership positions in Missouri.

The 25-page indictment also alleges that the Gangster Disciples have been involved in an ongoing scheme to smuggle K2 into Missouri state prisons. The indictment alleges that Boyce smuggled K2 into four Missouri prisons between 2019-2020: South Central Correctional Center in Licking, Missouri Eastern Correctional Center in Pacific, Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point and Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston. The indictment says Boyce had “help from Gangster Disciples inmates at those facilities.”

The indictment also outlines the rules of the Gangster Disciples, which involves silence and secrecy and a total prohibition on cooperation with law enforcement, “with serious violations punishable by death.”

The FBI, DEA, Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, Bridgeton Police, Cape Girardeau Police and the Missouri Department of Corrections are all involved with the investigation, according to the Justice Department.

U.S. Marshals: three southeast Missouri jail escapees should be considered dangerous

January 18, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The U.S. Marshals are now leading the search for three jail escapees in southeast Missouri’s Iron County, and the Marshals emphasize the three should be considered dangerous. A unified command post has been established at the Iron County Courthouse in Ironton.

Missourinet Cape Girardeau television partner KFVS reports authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information on the escapees: Tracy L. Brown, Dwight Abernathie and Samuel Gillam. The Marshals say all three were jailed on local charges. Gillam was jailed on a kidnapping charge, while Abernathie was jailed for assault and sodomy. Brown was in jail for a burglary charge.

U.S. Marshals, Iron County Sheriff’s deputies, Ironton Police and others have set up a command post at the Iron County Courthouse in Ironton (January 16, 2021 photo courtesy of Ironton Police Facebook page)

U.S. Marshals say the three moved a block wall to escape. Authorities are urging residents to lock their doors and to remain vigilant.

Marshals say the inmates escaped at about 4:30 on Saturday morning, and the Iron County Sheriff requested assistance from the Marshals at about 1 p.m. Saturday. The Marshals have sent personnel from Cape Girardeau and St. Louis to the area.

U.S. Marshals and Iron County Sheriff’s deputies are being assisted by Ironton Police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Pilot Knob Police and by the U.S. Forest Service, Missouri State park rangers and the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The search area includes the heavily-wooded Mark Twain National Forest.

Missouri Supreme Court issues key ruling involving juvenile murderer

November 24, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri prisoner who was 16 when she killed a man during a meth transaction in western Missouri’s Cass County will remain in prison for now, under a key ruling Tuesday from the Missouri Supreme Court.

Convicted killer Jessica Hicklin is currently incarcerated at the Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point (June 2020 file photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Corrections)

The inmate, 41-year-old Jessica Hicklin, was sentenced in April 1997 to mandatory life without parole. Hicklin is incarcerated at the maximum-security Potosi Correctional Center in southeast Missouri’s Mineral Point.

Prosecutors say Hicklin was 16 when Sean Smith was shot and killed.

Hicklin began challenging her sentence after the U.S. Supreme Court held in 2012 that juveniles cannot be given mandatory sentences of life without parole.

In Tuesday’s 20-page unanimous decision, the Missouri Supreme Court rejected Hicklin’s claim that the Missouri statute giving her parole eligibility after 25 years is unconstitutional.

In its ruling, the state court notes U.S. Supreme Court precedent gives states two options for fixing mandatory juvenile life-without-parole sentences for juveniles already sentenced: either resentence them or give them meaningful opportunity for release after considering certain circumstances, including their youth.

Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) spokeswoman Karen Pojmann tells Missourinet that Hicklin’s parole hearing is tentatively set for July 2021. The murder happened in 1995, and Hicklin entered state prison in April 1997 but received credit for time served in the county jail.

Hicklin also contended that the authority of Missouri’s Probation and Parole Board violates the state’s separation of powers. The Missouri Supreme Court rejected that.

Tuesday’s decision was written by Missouri Supreme Court Judge Laura Denvir Stith. You can read the full 20-page ruling here.

Virtual town hall tonight about COVID-19 within Missouri prisons

November 24, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union and several other organizations are hosting a virtual town hall this evening at 7 p.m. to talk about COVID-19 outbreaks within Missouri’s prisons. Families of those impacted by COVID inside Missouri prisons will have the opportunity to speak directly to some state leaders.

Virtual town hall tonight about COVID-19 within Missouri prisons

Panelists include Dr. Randall Williams, Missouri Department of Health and Human Services, Tim Cutt, Missouri Corrections Officer Association, Dr. Cheryl Avant, Health Chair NAACP, Amy Breihan, Co-Director MacArthur Justice Center, Ingrid Burnett, MO Democrat Caucus, Wiley Price, the Black Caucus, and others.

Missouri Department of Corrections spokesperson Karen Pojmann tells Missourinet 758 prisoners and 254 employees currently have COVID-19. Twenty-seven inmates and four workers have died from the virus.

To register for the town hall, click here. You can also watch it live on the Jefferson City NAACP Facebook page.

Missouri prisons have had seven COVID-19 associated deaths

October 22, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of five state prisoners and two state prison workers. Missouri Department of Corrections spokeswoman Karen Pojmann says six of the deaths have happened since September. The other one happened in April.

Missouri prisons have had seven COVID-19 associated deaths

Pojmann says in all of the offender cases, the patients were older than 60 and had other serious medical conditions.

“Autopsies aren’t being performed on people who have tested positive for COVID, so we aren’t certain about the precise cause of death, but deaths that occur after a positive COVID test are classified as COVID-related deaths,” she tells Missourinet.

The department is not releasing information about which prisons the inmates and workers are from. Missouri has 22 prisons.

Data on the agency’s website shows a total of more than 1,300 inmates and workers are currently infected with the virus.