BROOKS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND MUSKEGON TEMPORARY FACILITY

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

EXECUTIVE DIGEST #4722398
BROOKS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND MUSKEGON TEMPORARY FACILITY

INTRODUCTION
This report, issued in July 1999, contains the results of our performance audit of Brooks Correctional Facility (BCF) and Muskegon Temporary Facility (MTF), 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
BCF and MTF are under the jurisdiction of DOC. One warden serves as the chief administrative officer for both facilities. Shared services include: business management, mailroom, personnel, training, physical plant services, warehouse services, and fire safety.

The mission of the facilities is to protect society by providing secure settings for prisoners. BCF opened in 1989 and has a prisoner capacity of 1,230. BCF houses minimum security, medium security, and close security male prisoners. MTF opened in 1987 and has a prisoner capacity of 960. MTF houses minimum security male prisoners.

For fiscal year 1997-98, the facilities' operating expenditures were approximately $36.6 million. As of October 31, 1998, the facilities had 576 employees.

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

Conclusion: We concluded that BCF's and MTF's safety and security operations were generally effective. However, we noted reportable conditions related to weapons qualifications; gate manifests; tool control; keys, key blanks, and padlocks; and prisoner shakedowns, cell searches, and employee shakedowns (Findings 1 through 5).

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

Conclusion: We concluded that BCF's and MTF's practices and procedures related to prisoner care and facility maintenance were generally effective and efficient. However, we noted reportable conditions related to backup generator tests, sanitation and physical plant inspections, cash and manual warrant controls, and operating costs (Findings 6 through 9).

Noteworthy Accomplishments: MTF has developed a sex offender treatment program that it believes is unique in the country. The primary goal of the program is to assess, treat, and reduce the sexually deviant behavior of sex offenders so that there are no more victims.

BCF has developed an assault reduction program that is designed to increase prisoner problem solving abilities and reduce assaultive behavior.

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY
Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of Brooks Correctional Facility and Muskegon Temporary 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 methodology included the testing of records primarily covering the period October 1, 1995 through October 31, 1998. We conducted a preliminary review of BCF's and MTF's operations. This included discussions with facility staff regarding their functions and responsibilities; tests of program records; and a review of DOC policy directives, DOC procedures, and BCF and MTF operating procedures to gain an understanding of facility activities and to form a basis for selecting certain operations for audit.

We analyzed safety and security operations and practices and procedures related to prisoner care and facility maintenance for compliance with applicable policies and procedures and overall program effectiveness.

AGENCY RESPONSES AND PRIOR AUDIT FOLLOW-UP
Our report includes 9 findings and 9 recommendations. BCF's and MTF's preliminary responses indicated that they agreed and have complied with the recommendations.

DOC had complied with all 4 of the prior audit recommendations included within the scope of our current audit.

Full Audit Report - #4722398 - BROOKS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND MUSKEGON TEMPORARY FACILITY

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This page was created on 06/24/99.


INTRODUCTION This report, issued in July 1999, contains the results of our performance audit of Brooks Correctional Facility (BCF) and Muskegon Temporary Facility (MTF), 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 BCF and MTF are under the jurisdiction of DOC. One warden serves as the chief administrative officer for both facilities. Shared services include: business management, mailroom, personnel, training, physical plant services, warehouse services, and fire safety. The mission of the facilities is to protect society by providing secure settings for prisoners. BCF opened in 1989 and has a prisoner capacity of 1,230. BCF houses minimum security, medium security, and close security male prisoners. MTF opened in 1987 and has a prisoner capacity of 960. MTF houses minimum security male prisoners. For fiscal year 1997-98, the facilities' operating expenditures were approximately $36.6 million. As of October 31, 1998, the facilities had 576 employees.

AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS, AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of BCF's and MTF's safety and security operations. Conclusion: We concluded that BCF's and MTF's safety and security operations were generally effective. However, we noted reportable conditions related to weapons qualifications; gate manifests; tool control; keys, key blanks, and padlocks; and prisoner shakedowns, cell searches, and employee shakedowns (Findings 1 through 5). Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of BCF's and MTF's practices and procedures related to prisoner care and facility maintenance. Conclusion: We concluded that BCF's and MTF's practices and procedures related to prisoner care and facility maintenance were generally effective and efficient. However, we noted reportable conditions related to backup generator tests, sanitation and physical plant inspections, cash and manual warrant controls, and operating costs (Findings 6 through 9). Noteworthy Accomplishments: MTF has developed a sex offender treatment program that it believes is unique in the country. The primary goal of the program is to assess, treat, and reduce the sexually deviant behavior of sex offenders so that there are no more victims. BCF has developed an assault reduction program that is designed to increase prisoner problem solving abilities and reduce assaultive behavior.

AUDIT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY Our audit scope was to examine the program and other records of Brooks Correctional Facility and Muskegon Temporary 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 methodology included the testing of records primarily covering the period October 1, 1995 through October 31, 1998. We conducted a preliminary review of BCF's and MTF's operations. This included discussions with facility staff regarding their functions and responsibilities; tests of program records; and a review of DOC policy directives, DOC procedures, and BCF and MTF operating procedures to gain an understanding of facility activities and to form a basis for selecting certain operations for audit. We analyzed safety and security operations and practices and procedures related to prisoner care and facility maintenance for compliance with applicable policies and procedures and overall program effectiveness.

AGENCY RESPONSES AND PRIOR AUDIT FOLLOW-UP Our report includes 9 findings and 9 recommendations. BCF's and MTF's preliminary responses indicated that they agreed and have complied with the recommendations. DOC had complied with all 4 of the prior audit recommendations included within the scope of our current audit.