Improved Outcomes for Offenders with Chronic Mental Illness, Data Download, Iowa Department of Corrections, July 2011

Last month DOC released a study entitled Iowa Recidivism Report: Prison Return Rates. The study documents that Iowa’s three-year return rate to prison for offenders released during FY 2007 decreased from 33.9% for the previous three-years period studied to 31.8% (and below our goal of 33.3%). More dramatic is the decrease in the percent of offenders with mental illness returning to prison.

Iowa in Motion, Planning Ahead State Transportation Plan, May 8, 2012

According to 23 CFR § 450.214(a), “The State shall develop a long-range statewide transportation plan, with a minimum 20-year forecast period at the time of adoption, that provides for the development and implementation of the multimodal transportation system for the State.” The state transportation plan (Plan) is a document that will address this requirement and serve as a transportation investment guide between now and 2040. Iowa’s most recent plan was developed by the Iowa Department of Transportation and adopted in 1997 through a planning process called Iowa in Motion. Much of Iowa in Motion has been implemented and this Plan, "Iowa in Motion – Planning Ahead," will build on the success of its predecessor. The Plan projects the demand for transportation infrastructure and services to 2040 based on consideration of social and economic changes likely to occur during this time. Iowa’s economy and the need to meet the challenges of the future will continue to place pressure on the transportation system. With this in mind, the Plan will provide direction for each transportation mode, and will support a renewed emphasis on efficient investment and prudent, responsible management of our existing transportation system. In recent years, the Iowa DOT has branded this philosophy as stewardship. As Iowa changes and the transportation system evolves, one constant will be that the safe and efficient movement of Iowans and our products is essential for stable growth in Iowa’s economy. Iowa’s extensive multimodal and multijurisdictional transportation system is a critical component of economic development and job creation throughout the state.

Automated Traffic/Truck Weight Monitoring Equipment (Weigh-in-Motion), HR-282, 1988

This report documents work undertaken in the demonstration of a low-cost Automatic Weight and Classification System (AWACS). An AWACS procurement specification and details of the results of the project are also included. The intent of the project is to support and encourage transferring research knowledge to state and local agencies and manufacturers through field demonstrations. Presently available, Weigh-in-Motion and Classification Systems are typically too expensive to permit the wide deployment necessary to obtain representative vehicle data. Piezo electric technology has been used in the United Kingdom and Europe and is believed to be the basic element in a low-cost AWACS. Low-cost systems have been installed at two sites, one in Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) pavement in Iowa and the other in Asphaltic Cement Concrete (ACC) pavement in Minnesota to provide experience with both types of pavement. The systems provide axle weights, gross vehicle weight, axle spacing, vehicle classification, vehicle speed, vehicle count, and time of arrival. In addition, system self-calibration and a method to predict contact tire pressure is included in the system design. The study has shown that in the PCC pavement, the AWACS is capable of meeting the needs of state and federal highway agencies, producing accuracies comparable to many current commercial WIM devices. This is being achieved at a procurement cost of substantially less than currently available equipment. In the ACC pavement the accuracies were less than those observed in the PCC pavement which is concluded to result from a low pavement rigidity at this site. Further work is needed to assess the AWACS performance at a range of sites in ACC pavements.

Iowa In Motion: State Transportation Plan, 1997

What is Iowa in Motion? The Iowa Department of Transportation is continuing the journey to develop Iowa’s future transportation system. This ongoing planning process, known as Iowa in Motion, was developed in response to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) and Iowa’s changing transportation needs. The completion of Parts I, II and III of Iowa in Motion has led to development of this State Transportation Plan. Part IV includes activities, both current and future, to support the plan. This State Transportation Plan represents the thoughts and concerns of thousands of Iowans. Individuals, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), regional planning affiliations (RPAs), associations and organizations have become involved and have made recommendations concerning which direction should be followed regarding transportation investments. This plan represents their extensive input into the Iowa in Motion process and consensus building as we moved towards adoption of this State Transportation Plan. The adopted plan serves as a guide for development of transportation policies, goals, objectives, initiatives and investment decisions through the year 2020.

Investigation of Restraint Device use in Iowa's County Jail

Executive Summary The use of full-body restraint devices is a widespread practice in Iowa’s county jails. Full-body restraints come in the form of restraint chairs, boards, and beds, including two such devices manufactured in Iowa. Iowa law, which refers to these as four- and fivepoint restraints, states they are only to be used when an inmate is a threat to self, others, or jail security. However, the Ombudsman found they were also used on inmates who caused minor disruptions or in response to an inmate’s verbal abuse. In some cases, the restraints were used on inmates with known mental illness who were acting out, though no attempts were made to seek medical or mental health reviews for those inmates while restrained, leading to extended use of the restraint device.

Overview of the State Mental Health Institutes, August 24th, 2009

Iowa’s four Mental Health Institutes (MHIs), located in Cherokee, Clarinda, Independence and Mount Pleasant, provide critical access to quality acute psychiatric care for Iowa’s adults and children needing mental health treatment, and provide specialized mental health related services. The specialized services include substance abuse treatment, dual diagnosis treatment for persons with mental illness and substance addiction, psychiatric medical institution for children (PMIC), and long-term psychiatric care for the elderly (geropsychiatric).

Seriousness/Acuity of Mentally Ill Offenders in Prison, Data Download, Iowa Department of Corrections, July 2009

As of yearend 2008, about 41.2% of inmates had at least one diagnosis of a mental illness. The prevalence of mental illness among female offenders is higher than for men. However, it is important to look beyond these numbers to obtain a more accurate picture of the mentally ill inmate population and the challenges they pose for the Department of Corrections.

DHS Targeted Case Management 2005 Annual Report, 2006

Annual report on the activities of the Department of Human Services Case Management Unit. The Iowa Department of Human Services Targeted Case Management Unit helps consumers with mental retardation, chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities and brain injury gain access to appropriate living environments, needed medical services, and interrelated social, vocational and educational service. In 2005 the DHS Case Mangement Unit also begain serving children with a diagnosis of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED).

DHS Targeted Case Management Annual Report, 2006

Annual report on the activities of the Department of Human Services Case Management Unit. The Iowa Department of Human Services Targeted Case Management Unit helps consumers with mental retardation, chronic mental illness, developmental disabilities and brain injury gain access to appropriate living environments, needed medical services, and interrelated social, vocational and educational service. The Unit also assists children with a diagnosis of Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED)in a similar manner.

Mentally Ill Offenders in Community-Based Corrections, Research in Brief, Iowa Department of Corrections, April 2008

A survey of offenders supervised by the eight district departments of correctional services. This report was commissioned by the Iowa Department of Corrections Focus Group on Mental Health in Community-Based Corrections.

Pharmacy Pilot Project Showing Benefits, Data Download, January 2014

In 2013, released offenders with a mental illness were made eligible to obtain a free 60-day supply of behavioral health medications in addition to the 30-day supply already provided by the Department of Corrections. The Iowa Medication Voucher Program provided the funding, which allowed the DOC Central Pharmacy to dispense the approved medications to participating pharmacies in 95 counties.