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State Corrections launches independent investigative unit with narrow statutory remit
Summary
The Department of Corrections' new Corrections Investigative Unit (CIU) began work in late 2023; Director Aaron Reichert told the House Corrections & Institutions Committee the unit is small, reports directly to the commissioner and is required by statute to investigate PREA and a set of major events, with DHR handling employee misconduct.
Aaron Reichert, director of the Corrections Investigative Unit, told the House Corrections and Institutions Committee on May 15 that the unit began when “the unit actually got started in December of 23 when I was hired as the Director.”
The unit is charged by statute with a narrow set of investigatory duties, Reichert said: “We shall investigate the. Any allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment under the Prison Rape Elimination Act.” He described additional statutory triggers that require CIU inquiry as “major events” and listed deaths, escapes, contraband movement within facilities and threats to staff or people in DOC custody.
Why it matters: the CIU is a new, centralized investigative office inside the Department of Corrections that is intended to provide an independent look at serious incidents and compliance with federal PREA standards. The unit’s findings inform department discipline and operations and are transmitted to the commissioner.
Reichert said he and two investigators started work after the positions were funded: he hired two investigators in February 2024 and the investigators’ first day was Feb. 26. He described the unit’s early months as focused on standing up processes, policies and memoranda of understanding with other state agencies and law enforcement.
The unit’s legal authority is limited to what 28 VSA § 124 provides, Reichert told the committee; for misconduct allegations (personnel discipline), CIU coordinates with the State Department of Human Resources (DHR) and generally does not substitute for DHR-led investigations. Reichert said CIU will examine whether department policy, procedure or directives were violated and, where appropriate, recommend that matters be referred to DHR for misconduct inquiries or for action to revoke facility access.
Reichert described the unit as physically separated from DOC central office and reporting directly to the commissioner to preserve autonomy. Isaac Dinner, DOC policy director, told the committee the separation was intentional: the CIU “doesn't even sit in the normal DOC central office space. They're in a different building and that's really to insulate them.”
Statistics and scope: Reichert said the office handled a high caseload in its first reporting period: between February and December of the prior year the unit logged 134 investigations. He later reported a rolling count of 88 active cases and said 56 of those allege sexual abuse or sexual harassment under PREA. Reichert said the unit has been collaborating with state and federal law enforcement, DHR for parallel investigations and with internal policy staff to reduce duplicative interviews and investigative burden.
The CIU provides completed investigative reports and recommended corrective actions to the commissioner and other designated officials; Reichert said the commissioner has been receptive and that suggested policy or procedure changes are forwarded to operations to implement.
Ending: Committee members pressed for additional operational details; Reichert said he would provide updated, periodic statistics to the committee. Members also asked about records-management and the unit’s role in recommending changes to DOC policy where investigations identify compliance gaps.
