April 19, 2024

Senators visit Mitchellville prison, evaluate impact of funding cuts

By Newton Daily

From left Tim Darr, Mitchellville prison’s treatment services director, Sen. Nate Boulton and Sen. Chaz Allen talk during a visit the senators made to the correctional facility. (Submitted Photo)

Two state senators visited the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville on June 1.

While there, they met with Warden Sheryl Dahm and other employees, including Tim Darr, of Indianola, the prison’s treatment services director. Darr stressed that access to mental health services, both within and outside the prison, is essential to helping offenders succeed when they are released.

Sen. Chaz Allen, D-Newton, represents many of the people who work at the Mitchellville prison.

“I voted against the deep cuts to public safety this spring. I’m paying close attention to how those cuts are affecting the safety of prison employees and prisoners,” Allen said.

Sen. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines, a member of the Senate Justice Systems Budget Committee, also opposed the cuts to public safety.

“Balancing the state budget by cutting corners at our prisons is a mistake. To be effective, these institutions need to be safe places to live and work,” Boulton said.