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Q&A
Nutritional services complaints and staffing in DOC facilities
0:56:14
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171 sec
Council Member Justin Brannan inquires about complaints regarding nutritional services in DOC facilities and the status of hiring an Assistant Commissioner for Nutritional Services.
- DOC received a $4.5 million increase for nutritional services in the preliminary budget
- Multiple complaints were reported at a recent Board of Corrections meeting about food quantity and accommodations for dietary restrictions
- DOC claims to prepare over 20,000 meals daily, including specialized meals for religious and therapeutic needs
- The hiring process for an Assistant Commissioner of Nutritional Services is ongoing, with a candidate submitted for vetting
Justin Brannan
0:56:14
Thank you council member.
0:56:17
I have one or two questions.
0:56:19
I'm gonna turn it back to chair nurse.
0:56:21
In the preliminary plan, DOC received a almost a 4 and a half million dollar increase for nutritional services.
0:56:30
Yet at the board of corrections meeting on May thirteenth of this year, there were multiple complaints about the food including allegations that there were not enough food for everyone and that people were not receiving food per their dietary or religious restrictions.
0:56:47
So what's being done to address those complaints?
0:56:58
Attorney Mike.
James Saunders
0:57:00
Hi, deputy commissioner James Saunders.
0:57:02
Thank you for the question.
0:57:03
So I can tell you that we have approximately 7,500 PIC persons in in custody as of today.
0:57:13
The nutritional services division prepares over 20,000 meals daily.
0:57:18
Within that number are a number of specialized meals for individuals who declare themselves to be of a certain religion, and we have plenty of specialized meals for individuals who request a kosher meal.
0:57:34
We also have specialized meals for individuals who have a therapeutic need.
0:57:39
So if there's a specific complaint, I'd be happy to take it back to the team and address it.
Justin Brannan
0:57:46
I mean, guess we're talking about in this meeting on May 13, there were multiple complaints made at the border correction meeting, including allegations that there was not enough food and that people who have dietary or religious restrictions were not getting that food.
0:58:04
You're not aware of that?
Francis Torres
0:58:06
So chair Brandon, any complaint that is brought to our attention is immediately addressed by the area that is supposed to be responsible for.
0:58:16
Nutritional services would have been addressed by Deputy Commissioner Saunders and his entire team.
Justin Brannan
0:58:24
Okay.
0:58:24
But he just said he's not aware of the complaint.
Francis Torres
0:58:28
We're not.
0:58:30
Brought to us directly brought to us directly with a name of a person that complains in order for us to just not look at the complaint of the person but how that complaint has impacted an entire area is something that we would have addressed.
Justin Brannan
0:58:48
Okay.
0:58:49
Back in March, DOC said they were looking to hire an assistant commissioner to oversee oversee nutritional services.
0:58:56
Has that position been filled?
Francis Torres
0:58:59
The interview process has been conducted and the name of the candidate has been submitted for vetting.