MACOMB CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

Michigan Office of the
Auditor General
Thomas H. McTavish, C.P.A.
Auditor General

EXECUTIVE DIGEST #4721601
MACOMB CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

INTRODUCTION
This report, issued in November 2001, contains the results of our performance audit of the Macomb Correctional Facility (MCF), Department of Corrections (DOC).

AUDIT PURPOSE
This performance audit was conducted as part of the constitutional responsibility of the Office of the Auditor General. Performance audits are conducted on a priority basis related to the potential for improving effectiveness and efficiency.

BACKGROUND
MCF, located in Macomb County, is under the jurisdiction of DOC. The warden, who is the chief administrative officer, is appointed by the DOC director.

The deputy warden oversees custody (safety and security), housing, and prisoner programs. The administrative officer oversees the business office, physical plant, warehouse, and food service operations.

The mission of MCF is to protect the public by providing a safe, secure, and humane environment for staff and prisoners. MCF, which opened in 1993, is a minimum security (level I) and medium security (level II) facility for males, with a capacity of 1,232 prisoners. Prisoners are housed two to a cell within a secured, double-fenced perimeter that includes an electronic detection system, gun towers, and an armed officer in a response vehicle.

For fiscal year 1999-2000, MCF operating expenditures were approximately $25.4 million. As of June 15, 2001, MCF had 357 employees.

AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS, AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of MCF's safety and security operations.

Conclusion: We concluded that MCF's safety and security operations were generally effective. However, we noted a reportable condition related to cell and prisoner searches (Finding 1).

Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of MCF's practices and procedures related to prisoner care and facility maintenance.

Conclusion: We concluded that MCF's prisoner care and maintenance operations were generally effective and efficient.

Noteworthy Accomplishments: In January 2000, MCF began the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program. It is DOC's only therapeutic in-house program for medium security male prisoners. The program is located in one of the housing units and is operated by Self Help Addiction Rehabilitation, Inc., a contractual provider from Detroit.

The program functions as a therapeutic community, focusing on patterns of alcohol and other drug use and criminal conduct. Residents progress through three phases of treatment, which takes approximately nine months. The fourth phase of treatment is considered the aftercare phase. Aftercare occurs after release on parole, on tether, or to a corrections center, in which graduate offenders are required to participate and complete substance abuse treatment.

In 1996, MCF started a horticulture program. The number of prisoners enrolled in the program ranges from 15 to 30 and it operates six months a year. The program has allowed the mass production of flowers and vegetables for use by MCF and for donation to the community. Since the inception of the program, MCF estimates that the program has provided 6,000 pounds of produce to MCF and 50,000 plants to nonprofit organizations in the community. MCF has received many letters of thanks from nonprofit organizations that have received donations from the program.

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of the Macomb Correctional Facility. Our audit was conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and, accordingly, included such tests of the records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.

Our audit procedures included examination of MCF records and activities for the period October 1998 through June 2001. We conducted a preliminary review of MCF operations. This included discussions with various MCF staff regarding their functions and responsibilities and a review of program records, DOC policy directives, and MCF operating procedures. To gain an understanding of MCF activities and to form a basis for selecting certain operations for audit, we conducted tests of records related to safety and security, prison operations, prisoner care, and maintenance activities for compliance with applicable policies and procedures and for program effectiveness and efficiency. In addition, we developed a survey (see supplemental information) requesting input from certain individuals regarding their association with MCF.

AGENCY RESPONSE
Our report includes one finding and recommendation. MCF's preliminary response indicated that it agreed and has complied with the recommendation.

Full Audit Report - #4721601 - MACOMB CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

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This page was created on October 29, 2001.


INTRODUCTION This report, issued in November 2001, contains the results of our performance audit of the Macomb Correctional Facility (MCF), Department of Corrections (DOC).

AUDIT PURPOSE This performance audit was conducted as part of the constitutional responsibility of the Office of the Auditor General. Performance audits are conducted on a priority basis related to the potential for improving effectiveness and efficiency.

BACKGROUND MCF, located in Macomb County, is under the jurisdiction of DOC. The warden, who is the chief administrative officer, is appointed by the DOC director. The deputy warden oversees custody (safety and security), housing, and prisoner programs. The administrative officer oversees the business office, physical plant, warehouse, and food service operations. The mission of MCF is to protect the public by providing a safe, secure, and humane environment for staff and prisoners. MCF, which opened in 1993, is a minimum security (level I) and medium security (level II) facility for males, with a capacity of 1,232 prisoners. Prisoners are housed two to a cell within a secured, double-fenced perimeter that includes an electronic detection system, gun towers, and an armed officer in a response vehicle. For fiscal year 1999-2000, MCF operating expenditures were approximately $25.4 million. As of June 15, 2001, MCF had 357 employees.

AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS, AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of MCF's safety and security operations. Conclusion: We concluded that MCF's safety and security operations were generally effective. However, we noted a reportable condition related to cell and prisoner searches (Finding 1). Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of MCF's practices and procedures related to prisoner care and facility maintenance. Conclusion: We concluded that MCF's prisoner care and maintenance operations were generally effective and efficient. Noteworthy Accomplishments: In January 2000, MCF began the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program. It is DOC's only therapeutic in-house program for medium security male prisoners. The program is located in one of the housing units and is operated by Self Help Addiction Rehabilitation, Inc., a contractual provider from Detroit. The program functions as a therapeutic community, focusing on patterns of alcohol and other drug use and criminal conduct. Residents progress through three phases of treatment, which takes approximately nine months. The fourth phase of treatment is considered the aftercare phase. Aftercare occurs after release on parole, on tether, or to a corrections center, in which graduate offenders are required to participate and complete substance abuse treatment. In 1996, MCF started a horticulture program. The number of prisoners enrolled in the program ranges from 15 to 30 and it operates six months a year. The program has allowed the mass production of flowers and vegetables for use by MCF and for donation to the community. Since the inception of the program, MCF estimates that the program has provided 6,000 pounds of produce to MCF and 50,000 plants to nonprofit organizations in the community. MCF has received many letters of thanks from nonprofit organizations that have received donations from the program.

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of the Macomb Correctional Facility. Our audit was conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States and, accordingly, included such tests of the records and such other auditing procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. Our audit procedures included examination of MCF records and activities for the period October 1998 through June 2001. We conducted a preliminary review of MCF operations. This included discussions with various MCF staff regarding their functions and responsibilities and a review of program records, DOC policy directives, and MCF operating procedures. To gain an understanding of MCF activities and to form a basis for selecting certain operations for audit, we conducted tests of records related to safety and security, prison operations, prisoner care, and maintenance activities for compliance with applicable policies and procedures and for program effectiveness and efficiency. In addition, we developed a survey (see supplemental information) requesting input from certain individuals regarding their association with MCF.

AGENCY RESPONSE Our report includes one finding and recommendation. MCF's preliminary response indicated that it agreed and has complied with the recommendation.