Public Radio for Alaska's Bristol Bay
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

DOC Discloses Policy on Prisoner Deaths

Alaska Department of Corrections

In response to a series of controversial deaths in the state prison system, the Alaska Department of Corrections has disclosed how it handles such incidents.  KDLG’s Chase Cavanaugh has more.

The Alaska Department of Corrections has been under increased scrutiny since a series of prisoner deaths beginning in April.  It began with 20-year old David Mosely, a mentally ill inmate who was found dead in his cell.  Other deaths include those of Elihu Gillespie, who his cellmate strangled to death, Mark Bolus, a 24 year old schizophrenic who committed suicide, and Kirsten Simon and Amanda Kernak, two women battling drug addictions that died after hours of reported illness without medical care.  On July 15th, the Alaska Senate held a hearing on these deaths, and about two weeks later, the Department of Corrections decided to disclose how it handles prisoner deaths.  Deputy Director Sherry Daigle said the document is nothing out of the ordinary, but was previously classified.

“The policy just covers, in the event of a prisoner death, what the Department will do. It just mentions things about how we will notify the next of kin, how we will provide information to the public, and that we will do so as quickly as possible without releasing any confidential information. It also talks about how we will release information to the media and how quickly that will be done.”

She said the policy release was motivated by public disclosure rather than changing any underlying methods.

“It doesn’t really change anything as far as how we are investigating death. We still are following protocols and then contacting the State Troopers in the event of a death inside the institution.”

The full policy can be viewed at the website of the Alaska Department of Corrections.