CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) — A Rhode Island Department of Corrections internal investigation has determined sex offenders did not gain access to computers through an ACI treatment program, but the long time administrator of the program has terminated his contract.
Peter Loss and his company ACSW, Inc. had run the sex offender treatment program for 18 years, with the most recent contract that runs through June paying $105,000 a year according to documents provided to Target 12. RIDOC spokesperson Susan Lamkins said the investigation started in late February after information surfaced that Loss “may have allowed inmates access to computers.”
‘”The investigation has been completed and it was determined that no inmates had access to the internet,” Lamkins said. “Peter Loss has terminated his contract with the Department. The contract gave either party the opportunity to end the agreement. It was his decision.”
Lamkins said the decision leaves the ACI without the medium security treatment program, which serves 86 sex offenders at a time. Lamkins said RIDOC will be putting out “a Request for Procurement to find another provider of sex offender treatment.”
“That (program) is important to us,” Lamkins said. “We want the process to be rapid to find a replacement.”
Lamkins said the initial concern was that sex offenders had been given access to an employees-only room in medium security that has about four computers in it. “We did investigate the matter and the allegation was unfounded,” Lamkins said.
State Police Superintendent Colonel Steven O’Donnell had confirmed that two state troopers, who are stationed at the prison, removed the computers in February as part of the investigation. He said the hard drives would be analyzed to uncover whether or not any data was sent out, or received.
The RIDOC website had stated that Loss was “well respected by the Institutions and Operations staffs who know how strongly he holds individuals accountable for their behaviors.”
According to the contract Loss singed, the program was supposed to offer several services, including sex offender treatment, written evaluations for the Parole Board and in-service training for correctional officers. As part of the pact, Loss was also required to write risk assessments for each participant. Loss was unavailable for comment. ..Source.. by Walt Buteau
No comments:
Post a Comment