CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION INSPECTION COMMITTEE

OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE MEMBERS
Rep. Peter Beck
Rep. Nicholas Celebrezze
Rep. Robert Hackett
Rep. Robert Hagan




Joanna E. Saul, Director
SENATE MEMBERS
Sen. Shirley Smith, Chair
Sen. Cliff Hite, Vice Chair
Sen. Edna Brown, Secretary
Sen. John Eklund









Correctional Institution Inspection Committee and Interested Party
Preliminary Recommendations on Aramark Food Service Contracted Through
the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction


















August 19, 2014







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A number of concerns have recently arisen due to reports of contamination of food service within Ohio
Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC) facilities. Additional concerns such as staffing, food
portion sizes, and improper relationships with inmates were then made public in regards to the recent
privatization of DRC food service to Aramark Correctional Services.

A meeting of the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee (CIIC) was convened on July 30, 2014 to
discuss those incidents and concerns. At that meeting, Chairwoman Smith requested from members and
interested parties recommendations that would correct, improve, or add to changes already implemented
by DRC to address the contamination and other food service concerns.

The following are preliminary recommendations made by CIIC members and interested parties. The
recommendations included herein are intended to facilitate discussion amongst those members and
interested parties to derive a final list of recommendations. They are not intended to serve as final
recommendations of the committee.




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STATE SENATOR SHIRLEY SMITH

RECOMMENDATION 1:
Increase quality of food.

After touring different facilities, I found that inmates expressed a high dislike for
meals served to them, leading many to forgo eating meals entirely, especially
dinner. Data provided by DRC shows that lunch and breakfast participation rates
remain steady, but there is a decrease in rates for dinner. We must increase the
quality of food served, especially during the dinner meal.

RECOMMENDATION 2:
Increase quantity of food and utilize National Academy of Sciences and ACA guidelines flexibly.

In touring food service areas at three prisons in Ohio, I found that one of the most
common complaints was that food portions have decreased. From information I
gathered during tours, these portions decreased due to inmates being unable to
double back, as well as the decreased size of the ladles used to serve food, which
were larger prior to Aramarks contract.

We must have a conversation to determine if we can use flexibility within the
dietary guidelines established by the National Academy of Science and the
American Correctional Association to increase portion sizes for inmates.

RECOMMENDATION 3:
Maintain pancake portion sizes at Northeast Reintegration Center.

During my tour of the facility, Northeast Reintegration Center inmates
complained about pancake portions being cut in half. My recommendation is to
maintain the former portion size of two pancakes.


CIIC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOANNA SAUL

RECOMMENDATION 1:
Currently, DRC security training consists of a three-hour video and review of DRC policies. Consider
increasing the DRC security training to several days.

RECOMMENDATION 2:
The Warden and/or the administrative staff should make weekly rounds in the food service operations,
especially the kitchen.

RECOMMENDATION 3:
The DRC should increase the number of visits from the DRC Food Service Contract Monitors.

RECOMMENDATION 4:
Currently, Aramark staff are required to submit an action plan when their DRC evaluation score falls
below 80 percent (79 percent or less). The DRC should consider raising the requirement for an action plan
to 89 percent or less.



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RECOMMENDATION 5:
Aramark should ensure that all food is thoroughly inspected by the Food Service Director or designee
upon arrival.

RECOMMENDATION 6:
Aramark should ensure inmate porters are maintaining a clean work area at all times in the kitchen.
Increase the number of inmate porters in the kitchen if necessary to ensure the area is clean during meal
preparation.

RECOMMENDATION 7:
Aramark should ensure that each Food Service Director maintains a kite log to document inmate
concerns.

RECOMMENDATION 8:
All Food Service Directors or their designee should conduct performance evaluations for inmate workers
to hold them more accountable for their assigned area.

RECOMMENDATION 9:
If possible, institutions should move all dumpsters away from the loading dock to prevent mice and other
vermin from attempting to enter the facility.

RECOMMENDATION 10:
Aramark should ensure all dumpsters are cleaned after trash is collected to help reduce gnats and any
vermin.

RECOMMENDATION 11:
Increase the number of Aramark staff at the facilities to properly supervise inmates. Most institutions are
expected to have 5-6 employees. Persons with prior correctional experience should be specifically
recruited, perhaps through additional pay incentives.

RECOMMENDATION 12:
Aramark should consider adding a hot bar or side items above the DRC menu that are low cost, but filling
(ex. rice and beans, pasta and sauce, etc.). This should positively impact inmates concerns regarding
smaller portion sizes and garner positive investment in Aramark.

RECOMMENDATION 13:
Aramark should implement an inmate worker incentive program with higher pay at every institution.

RECOMMENDATION 14:
Aramark should consider implementing additional incentives for both inmate workers and staff, such as
running a challenge for cleanest meal service or least amount of food stolen.

RECOMMENDATION 15:
Consider requesting that the County Health Inspector make quarterly visits. Currently, most institutions
receive a visit from the County Health Inspector every six months.

RECOMMENDATION 16:
Consider requesting that the local exterminator make weekly or bi-weekly visits. Many institutions only
use the exterminator once per month.



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RECOMMENDATION 17:
Consider requesting that a third-party health and safety sanitation company inspect the food service
operations regularly.

RECOMMENDATION 18:
Aramark should provide a monthly public report to the legislature, including CIIC staff, regarding its
operations and progress based on objective outcome measures, including incident reports, substitutions
made, estimated food loss due to inmate theft, employee terminations and vacancies, etc.

RECOMMENDATION 19:
Consider installing metal plates at the bottom of all doors leading to the loading dock to help prevent
mice and other vermin from getting in the facility. The metal plates would be installed on both the inside
and outside of the doors.

RECOMMENDATION 20:
Consider purchasing a compost unit or a pulper for each institution (as needed). This will allow
institutions to recycle or dispose of their food waste while also reducing the amount of trash in the
compactor located outside near the loading dock. This could also provide for a cost savings in waste
removal as well.

RECOMMENDATION 21:
Consider reviewing the Aramark contract and establish a higher daily caloric intake. This would increase
the cost per inmate meal but it could also decrease inmate concerns.

RECOMMENDATION 22:
Research other food service vendors (i.e. Aviands, ABL Management, Canteen Services, CBM
Correctional Food Services, and Trinity Services Group), particularly those that already have a proven
track record of providing quality food services in Ohio prisons.


STATE SENATOR EDNA BROWN

RECOMMENDATION 1:
Aramark is to publish a list of what they are supposed to supply as far as products for meals.

RECOMMENDATION 2:
Aramark is to publish appropriate substitutions by specific product, i.e. eggs as a substitution for peanut
butter or potatoes as a substitute for rice or pasta, or if liquid or powdered eggs are substituted for fresh
eggs.


STATE REPRESENTATIVE PETER BECK

RECOMMENDATION 1:
The contract should be resent out on an RFP and not just given to Aramark.

RECOMMENDATION 2:
The county does monthly inspections paid for by Aramark.

RECOMMENDATION 3:
The two fines and future fines not be used to retrain Aramark staff.

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RECOMMENDATION 4:
Any overtime the prison incurs is to be reimbursed by Aramark.

RECOMMENDATION 5:
If the CIIC notes, during its inspections, specific areas of improvement that Aramark should make, and if
Aramark does not improve in those areas, Aramark should be fined.


REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT HAGAN

RECOMMENDATION 1:
Revert food service from Aramark to OCSEA staff.
(Information supporting this recommendation was provided to Chairwomans office and can be made
available by request)


REPRESENTATIVE NICHOLAS CELEBREZZE

RECOMMENDATION 1:
Seconds Representative Hagans recommendation.


OCSEA

RECOMMENDATION 1:
Revert food service from Aramark to OCSEA staff.
(Information supporting this recommendation was provided to Chairwomans office and can be made
available by request)