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Defender General tells committee prisoners' rights office is stretched; recommends outside review and national expertise
Summary
M. Valerio, the state's Defender General, told the Corrections and Institutions Committee that the Prisoners' Rights Office has expanded but remains under-resourced, that PREA/PRIA complaints and medical-contractor disputes (including a Wellpath surgical-review example) are frequent, and recommended periodic external review and national expert advice.
M. Valerio, the state Defender General, told the House Corrections and Institutions Committee that the Prisoners' Rights Office handles frequent PREA-related complaints and remains chronically under-resourced, and urged the committee to consider outside expert review of correctional medical and housing practices.
"We used to have two people; we doubled the size of the Prisoners' Rights Office — now we have four lawyers and two investigators," Valerio said, describing a unit that is still stretched thin given the volume of complaints. He told lawmakers that the office represents people in custody on conditions-of-confinement issues and…
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