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New Documents Reveal Gaps in Vetting, Procurement at New Hampshire Department of Corrections Amid Resignation Fallout
- Granite Eagle
- May 19
- 4 min read
CONCORD, N.H. — Newly released documents reveal deeper concerns about oversight and procurement practices at the New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC), providing additional context behind this week’s resignation of Commissioner Helen Hanks. The documents detail how a controversial contract awarded to a company owned by an individual accused in civil court of sexual abuse managed to pass multiple layers of state review—despite growing scrutiny from Executive Councilor John Stephen and the Executive Council.
At the center of the controversy is a now-tabled contract for in-state courier services awarded to Diplomatic Security LLC, a company run by Earl Gage. Gage is one of several individuals named in civil suits alleging abuse at the former Youth Development Center (YDC), though he has not been criminally charged.
The contract appeared on the Council agenda this spring but was tabled after Councilor Stephen raised objections. A newly released letter from Stephen dated May 14, and a detailed response from Commissioner Hanks dated May 16, outline the concerns and the department’s internal processes—or lack thereof—that allowed the contract to advance.
Vetted—but Not Investigated
Commissioner Hanks confirmed in her response that Gage and his company were not listed on either the state or federal debarment lists at the time of the award. Because of that, and due to the department’s existing reliance on statutory debarment criteria outlined in RSA 21-I:11-c, Diplomatic Security LLC was technically eligible to bid. Hanks acknowledged that her department did not conduct open-source or civil background checks beyond what the law explicitly required.
“The qualifier for debarment was not met,” Hanks wrote, referencing the state statute. She emphasized that Gage had not been criminally charged, and that state contracting processes did not, at the time, account for pending or uncharged civil litigation.
According to Hanks, both the Department of Administrative Services and the Department of Justice reviewed and cleared the contract before it was placed on the Council’s agenda. Secretary of State records list the company as in “good standing.”
However, in response to the Executive Council’s concerns, Hanks pledged to change the department’s RFP template to require additional certifications from bidders and to mandate broader internet background checks on company officers. She also proposed new language to be added to future vendor certifications to ensure full disclosure of any disqualifying history—even if not captured in the debarment statute.
Stephen Raises Broader Oversight Failures
In his May 14 letter, Councilor Stephen called the original vetting process “unacceptable” and demanded immediate reforms. He also cited an unrelated procurement lapse involving the early shipment of 192 Taser 10 units from Axon in April 2024—months before the Governor and Council voted on the contract. The council ultimately rejected that contract in a 4-1 vote.
Stephen’s letter posed pointed questions: Why were the Tasers delivered before Council approval? Was any payment made? If so, what is the department’s plan to recover the money and return the equipment?
Hanks’ response did not directly answer whether payments had been made to Axon. However, she committed to providing further information and confirmed that internal reviews were underway.
“These issues reflect significant lapses in oversight and accountability that undermine public trust in the Department’s operations,” Stephen wrote. “Nothing less than your prompt attention to this matter will be considered acceptable.”
Governor’s Office Responds
While the Governor’s Office has already announced that Commissioner Hanks’ resignation has been accepted, the newly released correspondence provides greater insight into what prompted that decision. The Ayotte administration, in a press release last week, emphasized the need for “professionalism and integrity” in all departments and pledged to restore public confidence.
A Pattern of Procurement Problems
The courier contract and Taser shipment are not isolated incidents. According to Hanks’ letter, her department operates with only two full-time staff managing all contracting functions and currently has one vacancy in its procurement office. The limited staffing was cited as a contributing factor to the oversight failures.
To address this, Hanks proposed a series of reforms:
Updating the department’s RFP template to reflect the full language of RSA 21-I:11-c.
Requiring vendors to sign a detailed certification affirming their compliance with debarment criteria.
Conducting open-source background checks on all key personnel tied to a bid.
Consulting with the Department of Justice before proceeding with scoring any vendor flagged during these reviews.
She also promised to work with DAS’s Bureau of Purchase and Procurement on broader reforms.
Political Fallout
House Democrats had previously defended Hanks during recent budget debates and some key Democrat Leaders on the NH House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee repeated their call for her defense today. The House Finance Committee’s earlier decision to bypass Hanks’ input during budget discussions, citing a lack of confidence, now appears prescient to some observers. At the time, Democrats pushed back publicly against that move, expressing support for her leadership.
No Debarment on Record
According to the most recent debarred parties list published by the state as of May 15, 2025, neither Earl Gage nor Diplomatic Security LLC appears on the list. Similarly, a review of federal exclusion databases shows no active disqualifications.
That technical eligibility, however, has done little to quell the controversy. Hanks’ departure marks the second time in a year that procurement failures have contributed to administrative shakeups in Concord, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are signaling a renewed focus on reforming how state agencies evaluate vendors.
As Councilor Stephen put it: “This isn’t just about one contract. It’s about restoring public confidence in how our state does business.”
I and others have spoken up about the failures of the Department of Corrections to prevent sexual abuse and domestic violence, starvation and psychological torture in the State's juvenile facilities, jails and prisons. We have been ignored. Last year, I did receive a phone call from the DOC in response to my assertions about abuse at Merrimack County Jail. However, far from lisetning to my concerns and the conflicts of interest for the NHCADSV who have actively covered up child sex abuse at St Paul's School, the person cut my phone call short. The problem is that predators in New Hampshire are protected by law enforcement and public officials. DCYF admitted to deleting files at Phillips Exeter Academy for exampl…