COVID-19 @ Corrections, BoP(s), Correctional Facilities/Institutions (Texas Commission on Jail Standards)

Emma North-Best filed this request with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards of Texas.
Multi Request COVID-19 @ Corrections, BoP(s), Correctional Facilities/Institutions
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Emma North-Best


To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

Records describing the co-pay for each medical service at each applicable facilities

Records describing the number of inmates reported to infirmary between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing the number of inmates reported respiratory/breathing issues, flu-like or pneumonia-like symptoms between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing the number of inmates were referred to higher level of care, how many were sent to outside facilities, how many outside medical personnel visited each prison/facility between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing the number COVID-19 tests each prison has performed, how many ordered, process for testing between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing the number of units of soap, shampoo and other personal hygiene and sanitary, sanitizing or cleaning products distributed from September until now, how many sold from commissary, how many distributed normally, how many were requested by prisoners between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing the number of units of clothing sold in commissary, sanitary pads, coffee filters between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing transfers in and out of each prison between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing statistics on BOP prisoners in overflow or other non-BOP facilities i.e. county, city, state jails, as well as those listed "not in BOP custody" between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing monthly prison populations between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing the number of prisoners released each month between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Emails and memos from senior management/leadership on compassionate release due to COVID-19 between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Compassionate release guidance both general and specific to COVID-19, released or in effect between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

Records describing the ordered quantities of the medications 4E2RCat, ABBV-744, Camostat, Captopril, CB5083, Chloramphenicol, Chloroquine, Compound 10, Compound 2, CPI-0610, Dabrafenib, DBeQ, dBET6, IHVR-19029, Linezolid, Lisinopril, Minoxidil, ML240, MZ1, Nafamostat, Pevonedistat, PS3061, Rapamycin (Sirolimus), Sanglifehrin A, Sapanisertib (INK128/MlN128), FK-506 (Tacrolimus), Ternatin 4 (DA3), Tigecycline, Tomivosertib (eFT-508), Verdinexor, WDB002, Zotatifin (eFT226), Loratadine, Daunorubicin, Midostaurin, Ponatinib, Silmitasertib , Valproic Acid, Haloperidol, Metformin, Migalastat, S-verapamil, Indomethacin, Ruxolitinib, Mycophenolic acid, Entacapone, Ribavirin, E-52862, Merimepodib, RVX-208, XL413, AC-55541, Apicidin, AZ3451, AZ8838, Bafilomycin A1, CCT 365623, GB110, H-89, JQ1, PB28, PD-144418, RS-PPCC, TMCB, UCPH-101, ZINC1775962367, ZINC4326719, ZINC4511851, ZINC95559591, favipiravir, hydroxychloroquine, zinc, azithromycin, between September 2019 and the date of the processing of this request

I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the government and its activities, with some reaching over 100,000 readers in outlets such as Gizmodo, MuckRock, Motherboard, Property of the People, Unicorn Riot, and The Outline, among others. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through non-profits such as the library Internet Archive and the journalist non-profit MuckRock, disseminating them to a large audience. While my research is not limited to this, a great deal of it, including this, focuses on the activities and attitudes of the government itself. As such, it is not necessary for me to demonstrate the relevance of this particular subject in advance.

As my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available, I request that fees be waived.

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.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Emma Best

From: Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Public Information Act Suspended

Because the physical office of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards is closed due to the current health concern, it is suspending its response to public information requests. When the office reopens, it will resume responding to public information requests, and deadlines for existing requests will resume at that time.

The Texas Office of the Attorney General has stated<https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/open-government/governmental-bodies/catastrophe-notice/update-calculation-business-days-and-covid-19> that "If a governmental body has closed its physical offices for purposes of a public health or epidemic response or if a governmental body is unable to access its records on a calendar day, then such day is not a business day, even if staff continues to work remotely or staff is present but involved directly in the public health or epidemic response.

Commission staff will continue to fulfill their other duties insofar as it is possible. Thank you for your patience during this difficult time.

Dear Ms. Best:

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has only three items that you requested: the population reports, the Memos, and emails. The memos can be found on our website here: https://www.tcjs.state.tx.us/technical-assistance/ . Emails related to COVID-19 can be provided after the Commission office reopens.

Current population reports can be found on our website here: https://www.tcjs.state.tx.us/population-reports/
We can send you the prior population reports when our offices reopen.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has records related to only Texas county jails.

We do not waive fees for the news media.

Thank you for your interest in Texas County Jails.

William Turner
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Research Specialist
Public Information Officer
Legislative Liaison
Office: 512-463-2690

From: Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Ms. Best: We have lifted the suspension on public information requests. I have attached the population reports you requested. Do you still request the management emails related to "compassionate release"? I want to be sure before we spend labor resources collecting that information. There will be a charge to collect it. We do not waive fees for news media.

We have no other information responsive to your request.

William Turner
Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Research Specialist
Public Information Officer
Legislative Liaison
Office: 512-463-2690

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