Carson City Correctional Institutions

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

EXECUTIVE DIGEST #4721997
Carson City Correctional Institutions

INTRODUCTION
This report, issued in January 1998, contains the results of our performance audit of the Carson City Correctional Institutions (CCCI), 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
CCCI includes the Carson City Correctional Facility (CCCF) and the Carson City Temporary Facility (CCTF). One warden serves as the chief administrative officer for both facilities.

The mission of the facilities is to protect society by providing a secure setting for prisoners. CCCF opened in 1989 and has a prisoner capacity of 1,224. CCCF houses minimum security, medium security, and close security male prisoners. CCTF opened in 1987 and has a prisoner capacity of 960. CCTF houses medium security male prisoners.

For fiscal year 1995-96, CCCI's operating expenditures were approximately $36.4 million. As of August 31, 1997, CCCI had 577 employees.

AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS, AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Audit Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of CCCI's safety and security operations.

Conclusion: We concluded that CCCI's safety and security operations were generally effective. However, we noted reportable conditions related to tool control, prisoner shakedowns and cell searches, key security, gate manifests, weapons qualifications, and accounting for visitors (Findings 1 through 6).

Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of CCCI's prisoner care and maintenance operations.

Conclusion: We concluded that CCCI's prisoner care and maintenance operations were generally effective and efficient. However, we noted reportable conditions related to preventive maintenance, physical plant inspections, housekeeping and sanitation inspections, and the community liaison committee (Findings 7 through 10).

Noteworthy Accomplishments: CCCI has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections of the American Correctional Association.

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of the Carson City Correctional Institutions. Our audit was conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and 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 methodology included the testing of records primarily covering the period October 1, 1994 through August 31, 1997. Our methodology also included a preliminary survey of CCCI's operations. This included discussions with facility staff and review of applicable policy directives and procedures, reports, and other reference material to gain an understanding of facility activities and to form a basis for selecting certain operations for audit. We analyzed safety and security, prisoner care, and maintenance operations for compliance with applicable policies and procedures and overall program effectiveness.

Also, we surveyed certain individuals and businesses requesting input regarding their association with CCCI (see supplemental information).

AGENCY RESPONSES AND PRIOR AUDIT FOLLOW-UP
Our report contains 10 findings and corresponding recommendations. CCCI agrees with the findings and will comply or has taken steps to comply with all the recommendations.

CCCI had complied with all 3 of the prior audit recommendations included within the scope of our current audit.

Full Audit Report - #4721997 - Carson City Correctional Institutions

Documents prefaced by require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®, a free application available on the Adobe homepage.

This page was created on 3/12/98.


INTRODUCTION This report, issued in January 1998, contains the results of our performance audit of the Carson City Correctional Institutions (CCCI), 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 CCCI includes the Carson City Correctional Facility (CCCF) and the Carson City Temporary Facility (CCTF). One warden serves as the chief administrative officer for both facilities. The mission of the facilities is to protect society by providing a secure setting for prisoners. CCCF opened in 1989 and has a prisoner capacity of 1,224. CCCF houses minimum security, medium security, and close security male prisoners. CCTF opened in 1987 and has a prisoner capacity of 960. CCTF houses medium security male prisoners. For fiscal year 1995-96, CCCI's operating expenditures were approximately $36.4 million. As of August 31, 1997, CCCI had 577 employees.

AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS, AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Audit Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of CCCI's safety and security operations. Conclusion: We concluded that CCCI's safety and security operations were generally effective. However, we noted reportable conditions related to tool control, prisoner shakedowns and cell searches, key security, gate manifests, weapons qualifications, and accounting for visitors (Findings 1 through 6). Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of CCCI's prisoner care and maintenance operations. Conclusion: We concluded that CCCI's prisoner care and maintenance operations were generally effective and efficient. However, we noted reportable conditions related to preventive maintenance, physical plant inspections, housekeeping and sanitation inspections, and the community liaison committee (Findings 7 through 10). Noteworthy Accomplishments: CCCI has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Corrections of the American Correctional Association.

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of the Carson City Correctional Institutions. Our audit was conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and 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 methodology included the testing of records primarily covering the period October 1, 1994 through August 31, 1997. Our methodology also included a preliminary survey of CCCI's operations. This included discussions with facility staff and review of applicable policy directives and procedures, reports, and other reference material to gain an understanding of facility activities and to form a basis for selecting certain operations for audit. We analyzed safety and security, prisoner care, and maintenance operations for compliance with applicable policies and procedures and overall program effectiveness. Also, we surveyed certain individuals and businesses requesting input regarding their association with CCCI (see supplemental information).

AGENCY RESPONSES AND PRIOR AUDIT FOLLOW-UP Our report contains 10 findings and corresponding recommendations. CCCI agrees with the findings and will comply or has taken steps to comply with all the recommendations. CCCI had complied with all 3 of the prior audit recommendations included within the scope of our current audit.