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Resident urges Leavenworth commission to step up oversight of CoreCivic facility
Summary
At the June meeting, resident Daniel Macintosh urged the Leavenworth City Commission and its advisory board to increase short-notice tours and require verifiable follow-up data from CoreCivic, citing inmate complaints about food and at least one medical transfer.
Daniel Macintosh, a Leavenworth resident, told the City Commission during public comment that the city and its advisory board need to increase oversight of the CoreCivic detention facility and rely on verifiable evidence rather than unconfirmed statements from facility staff.
"We can't find issues if we're not looking in the right places," Macintosh said, pressing the commission to authorize more short-notice tours and to use ACA (American Correctional Association) process indicators to gather objective data. He said board members had reported "aromatic and visually appealing" food during scheduled tours while inmates reported the food was "bad" and "almost inedible." Macintosh also cited a medical transfer to St. John Hospital on May 16 as an example of information that should have been disclosed to the board.
Macintosh asked that requests for information be followed by verifiable data rather than "off-the-cuff" estimates from the warden, and said the Levvenworth Community Response group is available to assist commissioners or board members in reviewing process indicators. "No more taking CoreCivic at their word. More visits and more evidence," he said.
The commission did not take action during the public comment period; the mayor reminded the public that the commission generally does not respond during public comment and that action may not be taken on comments. Commissioners and staff will be able to direct follow-up through staff channels after the meeting.
Next steps: Macintosh’s requests — increased short-notice tours and documentation aligned with ACA process indicators — were presented to the commission as items for staff follow-up. The commission may direct staff to return with options for oversight, reporting procedures, or scheduling of additional tours for commissioners or advisory board members.
