Mortality Data and Related Policies, 2000-2020
| Tracking # |
2021-55 |
| Submitted | May 20, 2021 |
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Communications
From: COVID Prison Project
Jane Tower, Secretary Specialist on behalf of
Karen Yeaton, Associate Commissioner
Maine Dept. of Corrections
111 SHS
Augusta, ME 04330
To Jane Tower:
Pursuant to the Maine Freedom of Access Act, § 402 et seq. I hereby request the following records:
– Those which include time and date of all instances of death occurring in the offender population between January 2000 and December 2020.
– Those which indicate the total number of individuals in Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) custody who died by any cause, separated monthly, from January 2000 to December 2020.
– Monthly population records that include the total number of deaths occurring among people in the custody of the MDOC between January 2000 and December 2020.
– Final reports of death for all individuals in MDOC custody who died between January 2000 and December 2020.
Additionally, I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of any and all MDOC policies, regulations, and procedures, pertaining to...
– Investigations of in-custody deaths.
– Requirements for the performance of an autopsy or post-mortem medical examination of individuals who die while in MDOC custody.
– The reporting of in-custody deaths to other governmental agencies.
– Next-of-kin notification in the event of in-custody deaths.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not. However, we respectfully request a waiver of these fees as we are affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, and this request is made for a scholarly or scientific purpose and not for a commercial use.
If you intend to deny this request, I will expect to hear from you within the five business days mandated by law. Also, if you expect a significant delay in responding to this request, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.
If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely. Also, please provide all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
Forrest Behne
Policy Director, COVID Prison Project
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Office: (919) 391-7962
340 MacNider Hall | Campus Box 7240
333 South Columbia Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7240
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Maine Freedom of Access Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 20, 2021. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Corrections
Good Afternoon Forrest,
Your FOAA request 2021-55, below, has been received and is under review.
I estimate I will have a response to you within the next 2 weeks, if not sooner.
FOAA Request 2021-55:
1. Those which include time and date of all instances of death occurring in the offender population between January 2000 and December 2020.
2. Those which indicate the total number of individuals in Maine DOC custody who died by any cause, separated monthly, from January 2000 to December 2020.
3. Monthly Population records that include the total number of deaths occurring among people in the custody of the MDOC between January 2000 and December 2020.
4. Final reports of death for all individuals in MDOC custody who did between January 2000 and December 2020.
5. Additionally, I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of any and all MDOC policies, regulations, and procedures, pertaining to....
a. Investigations of in-custody deaths,
b. Requirements for the performance of an autopsy or post-mortem medical examination of individuals who die while in MDOC custody.
c. The reporting of in-custody deaths to other governmental agencies.
d. Next of kin notification in the event of in-custody deaths.
Respectfully,
Jane Tower, Secretary Specialist on behalf of
Karen Yeaton, Associate Commissioner
Maine Dept. of Corrections
111 SHS
Augusta, ME 04330
T: 207.557-8049
F: 207.287.4370
Karen.yeaton@maine.gov<mailto:Karen.yeaton@maine.gov>
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From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Maine Freedom of Access Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 20, 2021. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2021-55.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Corrections
Good Afternoon Forrest,
Please find the following responses to fulfill your FOAA request, 2021-55.
FOAA Request 2021-55: Pursuant to the Maine FOAA I hereby request:
1. Those which include time and date of all instances of death occurring in the offender population between January 2000 and December 2020.
Response: Please find attached the MDOC In-Custody Death Report with confidential information redacted (SSN #s etc). Please also be aware that this report is manually entered into the MDOC database, therefore is potentially susceptible to clerical errors. Information related to causes of death must be requested directly through the Maine State Medical Examiner's office.
1. Those which indicate the total number of individuals in Maine DOC custody who died by any cause, separated monthly, from January 2000 to December 2020.
Response: (Please see response to number 1 above)
1. Monthly Population records that include the total number of deaths occurring among people in the custody of the MDOC between January 2000 and December 2020.
Response: You may find MDOC population information at our website at maine.gov/corrections, Reports and Statistics and COVID-19 Resources.
However they only go back to 2015. Our Data warehouse only goes back to 2010, therefore I have attached the Average Daily Population Data from 2010 to 2014.
(please see Response to Number 1 regarding MDOC In-Custody Deaths)
1. Final reports of death for all individuals in MDOC custody who died between January 2000 and December 2020.
Response: (Please see response to number 1 above)
5. Additionally, I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of any and
all MDOC:
1. policies, regulations, and procedures, pertaining to....
2. Investigations of in-custody deaths,
3. Requirements for the performance of an autopsy or post-mortem medical examination of individuals who die while in MDOC custody.
4. The reporting of in-custody deaths to other governmental agencies.
5. Next of kin notification in the event of in-custody deaths.
Response: You may find all of our non-confidential policies at our Website: www.maine.gov/corrections<http://www.maine.gov/corrections>, Policies and Rules. Specifically Policy Number 18.21 Prisoner Death is the policy that will fulfill your request number 5A-E.
Respectfully,
Jane Tower, Secretary Specialist on behalf of
Karen Yeaton, Associate Commissioner
Maine Dept. of Corrections
111 SHS
Augusta, ME 04330
C: 207-557-8049
Karen.yeaton@maine.gov<mailto:Karen.yeaton@maine.gov>
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