State Rep. Greg Porter calls for IDOC accountability following reported fires, inhumane conditions

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. -- There have been two recent fires at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, one on March 15 and the other on April 7. In both instances, incarcerated men were injured. In response, one Indiana lawmaker, State Rep. Gregory Porter (D-Indianapolis), is calling for accountability and transparency from the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC).

Porter spoke with ABC57's Annie Kate Friday, May 8. The full interview can be found above.

Porter authored an op-ed about the issue, which states as follows:

"The recent fires at the Indiana State Prison are tragedies. They’re also not a surprise. They’re the result of years of inadequate oversight and deferred accountability by the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC) across multiple Republican administrations.

Our constitution makes it clear that incarcerated individuals must be treated humanely. It’s more than just a constitutional obligation. It’s a moral obligation. The health and safety of those in the state’s care is paramount. Right now, the IDOC is not meeting that standard.

Constant fires resulting in deaths and third-degree burns are not humane treatment. Removing electric outlets and turning off the lights, cell by cell, isn't a fire safety plan. It’s a temporary fix that fails to address the problem. We need real, lasting solutions to ensure people receive human care, and three specific steps could get us there.

First, the State Budget Committee (SBC) should act. The committee has the power to investigate any activity in state government with a fiscal element, and the tragedies in our prisons clearly qualify. The state recently paid $1.2 million to settle allegations of abuse at Miami Correctional Facility. There’s precedent for this kind of action. In 2011 and 2012, more than $500 million in taxpayer dollars was sitting in forgotten accounts in the Auditor’s office. Then, Gov. Mitch Daniels realized this situation required additional scrutiny, and the state hired an independent auditor. We need a similar approach.

The SBC should appoint a bipartisan subcommittee to oversee a third-party evaluation of fire safety needs across all IDOC facilities. Findings should be reported on an interim basis, with a full final report that includes recommendations. We need an accurate idea of how much it will cost to bring safety systems at all of our prisons up to standard.

Second, the IDOC Ombudsman needs to do their job. The ombudsman was established specifically to protect our inmates and hold the IDOC accountable. They’re supposed to be our early warning system for dangerous conditions before they turn into full-blown crises. But the IDOC ombudsman shifted from monthly to annual public reports in 2019. That’s more time for problems to fester between reports. Restoring monthly reports is an easy way to catch serious safety concerns, reduce legal liability for the state and ensure humane treatment of those incarcerated.

Third, we need sustained legislative oversight of the IDOC. Typically, the General Assembly only engages with the IDOC’s budget once every two years. That’s no longer sufficient. The fires at the Indiana State Prison, chronic staff shortages and issues with the department’s medical provider are clear indicators of the need for increased scrutiny. The four caucuses should work with the State Budget Agency (SBA) to create a quarterly group of fiscal analysts focused on the IDOC, modeled after the arrangement that exists for Medicaid. Regular financial analysis would benefit the executive branch, the legislature and the public, ensuring that money is properly spent.

The Bottom Line: Incarcerated individuals are still people. The steps listed above aren’t radical. They’re straightforward accountability measures that are fairly easy to accomplish. What would be radical is if the state continues to sit back and do nothing, as people die from deadly, preventable fires. Indiana can and must do better."