FOIA docs show data on ISP operations

FORT MADISON – Information provided through multiple Freedom of Information Act requests filed by Pen City Current last week paints a clearer picture of the state of operations at Iowa State Penitentiary since 2022.
It also paints a separate picture of the level of transparency that exists at the prison and the Department of Corrections' reluctance to be forthcoming about the state of affairs at the Fort Madison facility.
Pen City Current asked for numerical data on nine different subjects after the DOC failed to communicate or confirm the status of former Warden Mark Foreman, who had been placed on administrative leave on Feb. 3. The DOC then refused to confirm that Foreman had resigned effective Feb. 13 despite multiple requests to DOC Chief of Staff Paul Cornelius, DOC Communications Specialist Zach Carlyle, and DOC Director Beth Skinner.
Cornelius said Pen City Current did not inquire through the proper media email address, instead choosing to email Cornelius directly. However, three other communications prior to the inquiry for confirmation of Foreman’s resignation were addressed by Cornelius directly through his office email and not the media email at DOC.media@iowa.gov. Documents received through FOIA requests show other media outlets emailing Cornelius directly as well with success.
The DOC website does say all media requests should go through that email address, however, Cornelius had sent precedent on multiple occasions by responding directly to inquiries from multiple media outlets.
A separate FOIA request was required by DOC General Counsel Shannon Archer for Pen City Current to obtain emails sent by Cornelius to other media outlets in the area with the exception of Pen City Current. Archer did produce the emails after Archer received the formal FOIA.
However, Archer has declined to provide a copy of Foreman’s letter of resignation citing Iowa Code Chapter 22.7(11)(a)(5) saying it’s a confidential document. She also indicated in the email denying access to the document that “this will conclude our correspondence on this matter”.
The Iowa Public Information Board has issued opinions that letters of resignation are generally not protected documents.
An opinion from the board in 2024 stated: “While 22.7(11) protects "personal information in confidential personnel records," it lists specific exceptions that must be disclosed, including the fact of employment, positions held, and, crucially, documentation regarding disciplinary actions or resignations.”
Moreover, the IPIB also stated in a separate opinion that: “Public employers in Iowa are required to notify employees in writing that documents relating to resignation in lieu of termination in their personnel file are subject to public disclosure.”
Archer contends in emails that Foreman did not resign in lieu of termination despite being placed on administrative leave by the DOC, an internal DOC investigation during the leave, and removing access to his cellphone and email account. She also said there were no plans to reinstate Foreman.
“We have no date for reinstatement to provide,” Archer wrote.
Archer also said for State of Iowa government employees, administrative leave is "indefinite status during an investigation".
“Reinstatement dates are not provided. Mr. Foreman resigned. He did not resign in lieu of termination. My position stands,” Archer wrote.
The numerical information requested was for a timeline beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The data requests ranged from disclosures about sexual harassment of staff and/or offenders, terminations for cause, resignations, grievance hearings, retaliation complaints, and assaults on staff and offenders.
Since Jan. 1, 2022 a total 157 employees have resigned from the facility. Through Dec. 31, 2025, that would represent just under 40 resignations per year. The facility also terminated another 63 employees over the same time period.
The prison has held 59 staff grievance hearings in the past four years, while there have been four sexual harassment claims filed by staff over the same period. There were 15 sexual harassment complaints by offenders over the four-year period.
Under the assault category, the Fort Madison facility has documented 191 offender-on-offender assaults beginning in 2022, and 95 offender-on-staff assaults, for a total of 286 assaults in four years.