Q&A
Implementation status of DOI recommendations to prevent recording of privileged calls
0:33:21
ยท
161 sec
Council Member Sandy Nurse inquires about the implementation status of DOI recommendations to prevent recording of privileged calls. James Conroy from the Department of Correction provides details on the current status and challenges.
- Discussion of annual training for Securus users on identifying potentially privileged calls
- Clarification on memorializing protocols in written departmental directives
- Explanation of the process for notifying DOI upon discovering improperly recorded privileged calls
- Debate on the necessity of changing departmental directives
James Conroy
0:33:21
The I I think with the exception of the actual policy changes, we have implemented steps that, to ensure that this problem does not happen again.
0:33:30
And as a matter of fact, you you know, we had had a quality assurance program in place, which Securus still does, and we have not been apprised of a situation like this since, the initial complaints.
Sandy Nurse
0:33:44
Okay.
0:33:44
So the recommendations were annual training for securist users on identifying potentially privileged calls.
0:33:52
Is there annual training being conducted?
James Conroy
0:33:56
There's not annual training, but when we consider this, at least when I we talked about it, we we I'm not really a 100% what they mean by securist users.
0:34:04
In terms of, department users, it's a very extremely limited universe of staff that have access to these calls.
0:34:12
It has to be approved essentially by the commissioner or another high ranking executive.
0:34:17
Those are ordinarily people who are trained in this manner.
0:34:20
So we don't have an ongoing training because of that, because it's not a broad universe.
0:34:24
And I don't think the intention was to train, you know, the actual people who make phone calls, you you know, on this process.
0:34:30
I I understand what I think they're getting at, but it's not something that's
Sandy Nurse
0:34:34
So there's so no.
0:34:36
Memorializing protocols to prevent the monitoring and recording of privileged calls in written departmental directives was another recommendation.
0:34:43
Do we have that written?
James Conroy
0:34:46
We had not changed our directives in in response to this.
Sandy Nurse
0:34:49
Okay.
0:34:50
And immediately notifying DOI upon discovering that a privileged call has been improperly recorded.
0:34:56
Is that a a practice that's been put into place?
James Conroy
0:34:59
A 100% it is.
0:35:00
Yes.
0:35:00
And we shared with them any of the auditing that was done prior to and post, the DOI report and the discovery of the incident.
Sandy Nurse
0:35:09
Okay.
0:35:11
So the first recommendation, you're it's unclear what your what, the DOI recommend you are unclear about what they are intended, but you've said you are, from my understanding, from what you just said, the department people within the department who are utilizing Securus have been are doing an annual training?
James Conroy
0:35:28
I I don't know about annual, but they certainly have been trained in investigative techniques, including the use of Securus and dissemination or identifying privileged calls.
Sandy Nurse
0:35:37
Okay.
0:35:38
Okay.
0:35:39
Is there any intention to change departmental directives?
James Conroy
0:35:44
I don't know of any right now, but I could certainly find out.
0:35:47
We we could see.
0:35:48
But again, the the policies and procedures related to this, we have not seen problems of this nature again.
0:35:53
So it's not something that we're opposed to.
0:35:55
It's just whether or not the necessity exists for, a specific directive related to this, but certainly something we could explore.