OMBUDSMAN FOR CORRECTIONS:

An Inventory of Its Files of Theartrice Williams at the Minnesota Historical Society

Government Records

Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For details, please see restrictions.

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Minnesota. Ombudsman for Corrections.
	Title:	Files of Theartrice Williams.
	Dates:	1972-1989 (bulk 1972-1978).
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Files kept by Theartrice Williams, Minnesota's first Ombudsman for Corrections, serving from 1972-1982.
	Quantity:	2.6 cubic feet (2 boxes and 1 partial box).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

The files, which include correspondence, budget materials, reports, and related materials, provide a fairly accurate look at conditions in Minnesota's prisons in the 1970s, particularly through the incident and deaths/suicides files from the Minnesota State Prison and State Reformatory for Men. Also documented are the office's relations with the state's various correctional institutions, particularly the Stillwater prison; the Department of Corrections; and the Governor's Commission on Crime Prevention and Control.

Housed with Williams' files are a chronological series of official recommendations to corrections agency officials suggesting specific administrative actions (1972-1978). They include correspondence and related documents.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Access Restrictions:

Contain private data (see Minn. Stat. 13/66). Access is governed by an interagency agreement with the Ombudsman for Corrections.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota. Ombudsman for Corrections. Files of Theartrice Williams. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession numbers: 985-14; 2003-36; 2023-43

Processing Information:

Processed by: Processing staff, 1989; Rich Arpi, December 2002; Charles Rodgers, May 2023

Catalog ID number: 990017039970104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION


Location
115.I.5.1B	Administration budget, 1972-1974. 2 folders:
		Foundation proposal, 1972-1974.
		Legislative proposal, January-March 1973.


		American Bar Association: Grievance Mechanism Profile No. 1, approximately 1974.


		General correspondence, 1972-1978. 8 folders.


Location
114.B.12.7B	Correspondence, 1972-1983. 5 folders.
		Primarily concerning Williams’ appointment as Ombudsman, and his educational presentations and consulting activities. Arranged in rough chronological order.


		Morrill Hall revisited, 1989.
			Information concerning the 1989 reunion of the University of Minnesota African- American students who took over the ground floor of Morrill Hall to protest the university’s neglect of African-American students.


Location
115.I.5.1B	Correspondence with specific institutions, 1972-1981. 9 folders:
		Lino Lakes, 1973-1977.
		Minnesota Correctional Institution for Women, Shakopee, 1973-1977, 1981.
		Minnesota Home School, Sauk Centre, 1974-1976.
		Minnesota Security Hospital, St. Peter, 1974-1976.
		Minnesota State Prison, Stillwater, 1972, 1974-1977. 2 folders.
		Ramsey County Workhouse, 1975-1977.
		Red Wing State Training School, 1974-1977.
		State Reformatory for Men, St. Cloud, 1974-1978. 2 folders.
		Willow River Camp, 1974-1976.


		Correspondence with Minnesota Corrections Board, 1973-1977.


		Information manual, 1973-1977.


		The Ombudsman’s Annual Reports: A Discussion Paper by Stanley V. Anderson, Professor of Political Science, University of California at Santa Barbara, September 1976.


		Ombudsman case study, approximately 1975.


		Ombudsman Policy Recommendations: Summary, November 1976-February 1977.


		Ombudsman proposal, 1972-1973.


		Recommendations for Juvenile Institutions, October 1974.


		Staff conferences, 1975.


		Department of Corrections, 1972-1977. 7 folders:
			Community Corrections Act standards, 1975.
			Correspondence, 1973-1977. 2 folders.
			Health Advisory Committee minutes, 1976-1977.
			Health care, 1972-1975.
			Mission statement, 1974.
			Response to Final Report of Joint House-Senate Committee on Minnesota State Prison, July 14, 1976.


		Governor’s Commission on Crime Prevention and Control, 1972-1977. 5 folders:
			Grant, 1972-1976. 3 folders.
			Grant materials, 1975-1977.
			Evaluation report, November 1974.


	Minnesota State Prison, Stillwater, 1972-1978. 18 folders:
		Audit Report of Prison Industries, Five Years Ending December 31, 1974 and June 30, 1975.
		Consultation Report, approximately 1976.
		Information handbook, January 1975.
		Inmate Advisory Council, 1972-1975. 3 folders:
			Constitution, 1973.
			Minutes, 1972-1975. 2 folders.
		Intensive Treatment Unit Report, February 20, 1973–February 22, 1974.
		Legislative Audit Report: Excerpts, December 1975.
Location
115.I.5.2F		Lockup and other jail rules, 1974-1977.
		Mail handling, 1973-1976.
		Maximum Custody Unit, 1975.
		Mediation, State Reformatory for Men, St. Cloud, 1974-1975.
		Medical inspections and complaints, 1973-1975.
		Medical treatment guidelines, May 27, 1977.
		Parole contact analysis, July 1977-April 1978.
		Presentation on Prisoner’s Rights, Grievances, and Disciplinary Procedures, April 5, 1973.
		Procedures and Policy Statements, 1972-1976.
		United States District Court: Hines, Monge, Johnson, Hicks, et al. v Wendell Anderson and Kenneth Schoen, et al., Complaint, 1973.


		Deaths and Suicides: Information case files, 1973-1977. 21 folders:
			Incidents took place at Minnesota State Prison at Stillwater and State Reformatory for Men at St. Cloud. There is one file from the Minnesota Correctional Institution for Women at Shakopee. Some files contain graphic photographs.
			Baker, No. 24967, Minnesota State Prison, November 19, 1973.
			Bradshaw, No. 28490, State Reformatory for Men, September 13, 1977.
			Chaney, No. 29076, State Reformatory for Men, January 4, 1976.
			Clem, No. 29109, State Reformatory for Men, January 28, 1975.
			Conley, No. 28801, State Reformatory for Men, November 13, 1974.
			Cyr, No. 26500, Minnesota State Prison, February 10, 1976.
			Durham, No. 25205, Minnesota State Prison, October 30, 1973.
			Fultz, No. 20401, Minnesota State Prison, March 9, 1974.
			Gillespie, No. 26673, Minnesota State Prison, July 20, 1977.
			Holtz, No. 40-1584, Minnesota Correctional Institution for Women, Shakopee, October 25, 1974.
			King, No. 25636, Minnesota State Prison, September 25, 1974.
			Lasley, No. 24678, Minnesota State Prison, June 15, 1977.
			Love, No. 24572, Minnesota State Prison, October 28, 1973.
			Martin, No. 27846, State Reformatory for Men, March 14, 1974.
			Mitchell, No. 21377, Minnesota State Prison, February 22, 1974.
			Moose, No. 25438, Minnesota State Prison, November 16, 1974.
			Morgan, No. 28483, State Reformatory for Men, June 17, 1977.
			Sporleder, No. 25131, Minnesota State Prison, September 14, 1974.
			Investigation Report: Deaths of Martin and Fultz, May 1, 1974.
			Investigation Report materials: Deaths of Love and Durham, file opened October 29, 1973.
			Final Investigation Report: Deaths of Love and Durham, December 12, 1973.


Other Investigation/Incident Reports, 1972-1977. 20 folders:
	Incident at St. Cloud, August 5, 1973:
		Investigation of an inmate fight with racial overtones.
		Behavior reports.
		Summons of prisoners/prison personnel for hearings.
		Hearing transcript, pages 1-99, September 13, 1973.
		Hearing transcript, pages 100-140, September 17, 1973.
			Also includes statements by inmate Buford, 25 pages; hearing officer Haiden, 8 pages; inmate Crawford, 13 pages; and Deputy Commissioner Milt Olson, 2 pages.
		Incident File, A-H.
		Additions to Incident file.
		Final Report, November 1, 1973.
	Incident at St. Cloud, April 3, 1974.
	State Reformatory for Men Reports v Williams and Richardson, August 30, 1974.
	Minnesota State Prison: Cell Hall A disturbance, September 13, 1974.
	Minnesota State Prison: Maximum Custody Unit, June 1975.
	State Reformatory for Men: Cell House A disturbance, July 31, 1975.
	Minnesota State Prison: Cell Hall A disturbance, January 23, 1976.
	Willow River Incident, October 1976.
	State Reformatory for Men: Cell Hall A disturbance, February 20, 1977.
	Minnesota State Prison: C Max lawsuit, 1976-1977.
	Minnesota State Prison: C Max investigation, March 1977.
	Minnesota State Prison: Skenadore and Ford, August 12, 1977.
	Miscellaneous incidents, 1972-1977. 2 folders.


Location
114.B.12.7B	Official Recommendations to Corrections Agency Officials, September 1972-June 1978. 10 folders.
		Each folder contains a log of recommendations listing date sent, date of response, subject, and recommendations.

RELATED MATERIAL

Copies of the official recommendations housed in this series may also be found in the Ombudsman for Corrections' Client files (cataloged separately).

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CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Correctional institutions -- Minnesota.; Corrections -- Minnesota.; Ombudspersons -- Minnesota.; Prison administration -- Minnesota.; Prison discipline -- Minnesota.; Prison homicide -- Minnesota.; Prison violence -- Minnesota.; Prisoners -- Minnesota -- Deaths -- Photographs.; Prisoners -- Suicidal behavior -- Minnesota.; Reformatories -- Minnesota.

Persons:: Williams, Theartrice.

Organizations:: Minnesota State Prison (Stillwater, Minn.); Minnesota State Reformatory for Men.; Minnesota. Department of Corrections.; Minnesota. Governor's Commission on Crime Prevention and Control.

Document Types:: Photographs.

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OMBUDSMAN FOR CORRECTIONS:

OVERVIEW

SCOPE AND CONTENTS

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

RELATED MATERIAL

CATALOG HEADINGS