The former warden of the Iowa State Penitentiary says concerns about leadership and institutional culture led to his resignation earlier this year.
Mark Foreman, who served about 10 months, told the Pen City Current that he stepped down in February after being placed on administrative leave. He cited what he described as a culture of unaccountability and outdated practices within the Iowa Department of Corrections, saying the department’s actions did not align with its stated mission of maintaining safe and humane conditions.
Foreman, who has worked in correctional systems across multiple states, said the environment discouraged speaking up and instead favored “going with the flow.” However, DOC spokesperson Zachary Carlyle pushed back on those claims, saying the department stands by its values and maintains safe and secure operations at its facilities.
