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Privacy breach at the Department of Corrections - Updated x2

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The Department of Corrections sent out a memo to employees this week warning them of a security breach involving private information.

For whatever reason, an IDOC report containing the names, salaries and Social Security numbers of employees was found at an “outside location,” according to the memo. The Department claims it is investigating and says it has no reason to expect that the info was “misused.”

A source within IDOC said yesterday that the State Police had been notified. They were being pretty tight lipped over there yesterday about what the heck this report was doing in the public realm.

I’m having some trouble with my FTP software, but when that’s fixed I’ll upload the entire memo.

Here it is. [pdf file]

UPDATE: AFSCME has more on its website.

UPDATE 2: AFSCME’s executive director Henry Bayer is accusing the department of not “taking all feasible steps to minimize employee losses.” A letter from Bayer to DOC Director Roger Walker is here. [pdf file]

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 1:45 pm

Comments

Was this “outside location” Citizens for Blagojevich?

Comment by Scoop Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 2:08 pm
Apparently there was a similar incident at IDOT. In that instance the “outside location” was a recycle bin. In an amazing twist of fate, the list was discovered by someone from the auditor general or inspector general’s office who just happened to be going through IDOT’s recycle bin. Go figure.

Comment by Political Junkie Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 2:47 pm
Someone’s in trouble.

Comment by B Hicks Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 3:49 pm
Oh hell they’ll cover it up !!! “Outside Location”….ya right !!! How did it ever get to an “Outside Location” ???? Screwup !, Cover Up & Move Up !!! Morale & administration at Corrections is at an ALL time low as with many agencies. This crap seems to happen alot with this bunch in general. Oh well send your “memo” & those effected will spend their time, effort & $$$ straightening it out should they become unfortunately a “victim”. Corrections is always digging & recording & updating keeping track of everyones ..every move. Hard telling what “personal info” is out there !!?? Geeezzzz Can’t anyone get it right !!!

Comment by annon. Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 3:57 pm
I notice that AFSCME’s letter demands that DOC hold employees harmless from losses incurred as a result of the Department’s carelessness with employee records. I wonder if Blagojevich will pony up $39 per head for 10,000 employees to buy a year of credit insurance like the Veterans Administration had to when they made a similar mistake.

Comment by spartacus Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 4:00 pm
Sounds like the work of another qualified appointee.

Hacks rule!

Comment by Buck Flagojevich Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 4:24 pm
Looks like an issue being handled by the legal representative of the organized employees and to some degree by the employer (IDOC).

I understand this is in the public sector thus administrators/or managers and employees are paid by our taxes but I am sure this has also happened in the private sector.

IDOC should fix this and add steps to prevent it in the future and then we should move on to other issues.

Comment by aidanquinn Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 4:31 pm
OK Rod bashers if this is all his doing, explain how the same thing went on 5 years ago at DCFS and DHS? Must be all those overworked, underpaid, just want to work hard and be a good public servant AFSCME workers. This seems to happen every few years. But hey, don’t let history or the facts get in the way of your anti-Rod bashing.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 4:35 pm
It’s unbelievable waht goes on at IDOT. I did several foia requests on new hires and promotions and they sent me lists with employees social security numbers on them. I think they let any stooge send them ou, obviously there is no training.

Comment by Bottom Line Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 5:01 pm
Why am I not surprised? Probally a former gas station worker Rod put in charge in a State Agency.

Comment by State worker Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 5:33 pm
Ya I guess it is ROD BASHING……He’s the damn governor, it’s his watch, he appointed these folks . It’s not bashing so much as it’s called being responsible Blagojevich & quit appointing un-qualified hacks, running multi-faceted agencies {or birthday gift supporters} to jobs with REAL LIVE responsiblity. This administration is the absolute worst at this sort of thing. They’re bungling, dis-organized & hacks. 1st chance in 30 years they could of made a difference & they fell flat on their A**.

Comment by annon. Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 6:42 pm
You think is bad? Many *smaller* agencies lack any IT staff. (The staff have quit or are in the process of being laid off.)

I know for a fact that social security numbers are *AVAILABLE ON AGENCY SERVERS* for anyone inside the agency to copy or print.

Once again: the story is with the smaller agencies, many of which are barely operating — and those that are lack staff and lack managers.

Comment by Yvette Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 7:11 pm
Martin was at our District the other day and talked about the incidents at IDOT. He claimed that 1 case was an employee was throwing out old copies of leave requests, with his/her SSN. THe Auditor found them in a recycle bin inside the building which means it was a ding against the department. The other incident was personal information was found in a recycle bin outside the building by a dumpster diving Auditor. We got the memo saying that anyting with personal information had to be shredded accordning to the records retaintion rules.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 7:57 pm
Who cares now!!! Toothpaste is out of the tube & we can’t get it back in !! The bottom line is this gov’t is “”lacks-a-dasical”" on pertinent documents & peoples personal data with little if any real safe guards. In this day & age of identity theft, corruption, electronic evesdropping, “phishing”, key boarding, HIPPA ect., ect. …you’d think a bell would go off. These agencies need to practice what they preach. Sad thing is some “underling” will take the hit for it because the big boss, whos ultimate responsibility is effective & secure running of the agency, failed at his/ her assignment. The little guy & mid-mgmt{who hasn’t seen a real raise in nearly 4 years} is carrying the work, overworked & often outside their qualification range.

Comment by annon. Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 8:08 pm
This reminds me of the time I was attending a meeting at the Howlett Building. I found a pile of papers under one of the auditorium seats; lo and behold, it was a Department of State Police payroll, Social Security numbers, salaries, addresses, the whole nine yards. I took it to one of the SoS police officers and told him I was pretty sure that the DSP wouldn’t want that information floating around and where I had found it. He just shook his head, said that DSP had been in there for a meeting, but he thought they had taken all their papers with them.

Gotta love it, gang.

Comment by Silent Budgeteer Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 8:35 pm
I am sure this was done by an “ethical” employee who obtained his/her job since Rod B. came to power. The only positive thing that has happened from this experience that I can tell, is that someone found the Director of DOC and was able to get his name on the memo…as rare with this Director as it is with our stick proof Gov.!

Comment by State Worker B Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 8:59 pm
Identity theft is not the only concern at DOC. I would hate to have my favorite inmate holding my home address…..

Comment by Reformed Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 9:33 pm
Someone forgot Amy’s birthday

Comment by Big Tom Wednesday, Sep 13, 06 @ 11:54 pm
Get Ready, This will surely turn into sveral stories before we know the truth (if we ever get a chance). I am sure Abbey will have to change the story out of the Gov’s office several times before they perfect the non-truth and the issue dies. How crazy will the stories be!

Comment by GetAGrip Thursday, Sep 14, 06 @ 6:33 am