Contact: Tracey Z. Poole RIDOC Media Relations (401) 462-2609
CRANSTON, R.I. – May 12, 2008 – The Rhode Island Department of Corrections is pleased to announce RIDOC SPRING Media Day to be held on Thursday, June 5th, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately noon. The Department’s first ever Media Day was held in the fall of 2007 and was well received. Space is limited, so members of the media are urged to mark their calendars and reserve their spot as soon as possible.
Attendance at the Spring Media Day must be confirmed at least a week in advance. Proper dress and ID are required. The day will begin with a gathering at the main administration building, located at 40 Howard Ave., Cranston, where participants will board a RIDOC vehicle and head off to tour three facilities – Maximum Security, High Security, and the Gloria McDonald Women’s Awaiting Trial & Medium Security Facility.
The tentative schedule for the day is as follows: 8:30 a.m. – Gathering at the Administration building with Director Wall and Tracey Poole. Light refreshments will be provided.
9 a.m. – Tour of the High Security Center – Opened in 1981, the “Supermax” facility has an average population of 87 (in ’07) inmates who represent particular management challenges. It also includes the newly-opened Observation & Stabilization Unit (OSU) for inmates who are housed in other facilities and determined to be deteriorating mentally and in need of more intense treatment before being returned back to their original facility. The HSC also includes the Protective Custody Unit;
10 a.m. – Tour of the Maximum Security Facility –The state’s oldest operational prison averaged 432 inmates in FY 07. This facility was on the Fall tour and many participants requested a return visit;
10:45 a.m. – Tour of the Gloria McDonald Women’s Awaiting Trial & Medium Security Facility – One of the state’s two women’s facilities, the building opened in 1984 as a converted MHRH building and an average population (in ’07) of 137;
11:45 a.m. Return to Administration Building for wrap-up
While it is not the purpose of Media Day to provide opportunity for stock footage, b-roll, or sound, we will allow a limited amount of that if it is arranged in advance and does not detract from the tours or cause a deviation from the tight schedule outlined above. We would also be happy to discuss opportunities to arrange for this at another time with interested parties.
To reserve a spot for the spring 2008 Media Day, please contact Tracey Z. Poole, Chief of Information and Public Relations, at (401) 462-2609 or tracey.poole@doc.ri.gov. In order to register, you must submit your date of birth so that a routine background check can be completed prior to entering the prisons.