MID-MICHIGAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

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

EXECUTIVE DIGEST #4727698
MID-MICHIGAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

INTRODUCTION
This report, issued in June 1999, contains the results of our performance audit of the Mid-Michigan Correctional Facility (MMCF), 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
MMCF, located in St. Louis, is under the jurisdiction of DOC, with a warden as the chief administrative officer for the facility. The DOC director appoints the warden, who is classified under the State civil service system.

The mission of MMCF is to protect society by providing a safe, secure, and humane environment for staff and prisoners. MMCF opened in February 1990 and is a minimum security (level I) male prison with a prisoner capacity of 960.

For fiscal year 1997-98, MMCF operating expenditures were approximately $16 million. As of September 30, 1998, MMCF had 241 employees.

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

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

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

Conclusion: We concluded that MMCF's prisoner care and maintenance operations were generally effective and efficient. However, we noted reportable conditions related to preventive maintenance and safety inspections, housekeeping and sanitation inspections, fire evacuation drills, the disaster management manual, inactive balances of prisoner funds, and the community liaison committee (Findings 7 through 12).

Noteworthy Accomplishments: MMCF 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 Mid-Michigan 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 methodology included the testing of records, for the most part, for the period October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1998. We conducted a preliminary survey of MMCF operations. This included discussions with facility staff and a review of DOC policy directives, DOC procedures, and MMCF 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, prisoner care, and maintenance operations for compliance with applicable policies and procedures and overall program effectiveness.

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

AGENCY RESPONSES
Our audit report includes 12 findings and 14 corresponding recommendations. MMCF agreed with all of the recommendations and has taken or will take steps to implement the recommendations.

Full Audit Report - #4727698 - MID-MICHIGAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

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INTRODUCTION This report, issued in June 1999, contains the results of our performance audit of the Mid-Michigan Correctional Facility (MMCF), 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 MMCF, located in St. Louis, is under the jurisdiction of DOC, with a warden as the chief administrative officer for the facility. The DOC director appoints the warden, who is classified under the State civil service system. The mission of MMCF is to protect society by providing a safe, secure, and humane environment for staff and prisoners. MMCF opened in February 1990 and is a minimum security (level I) male prison with a prisoner capacity of 960. For fiscal year 1997-98, MMCF operating expenditures were approximately $16 million. As of September 30, 1998, MMCF had 241 employees.

AUDIT OBJECTIVES, CONCLUSIONS, AND NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness of MMCF's safety and security operations. Conclusion: We concluded that MMCF's safety and security operations were generally effective. However, we noted reportable conditions related to prisoner shakedowns and cell searches, weapons qualifications and squad assignments, tool control, key control, gate manifests, and visitor records (Findings 1 through 6). Audit Objective: To assess the effectiveness and efficiency of MMCF's prisoner care and maintenance operations. Conclusion: We concluded that MMCF's prisoner care and maintenance operations were generally effective and efficient. However, we noted reportable conditions related to preventive maintenance and safety inspections, housekeeping and sanitation inspections, fire evacuation drills, the disaster management manual, inactive balances of prisoner funds, and the community liaison committee (Findings 7 through 12). Noteworthy Accomplishments: MMCF 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 Mid-Michigan 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 methodology included the testing of records, for the most part, for the period October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1998. We conducted a preliminary survey of MMCF operations. This included discussions with facility staff and a review of DOC policy directives, DOC procedures, and MMCF 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, prisoner care, and maintenance operations for compliance with applicable policies and procedures and overall program effectiveness. Also, we surveyed certain area individuals and businesses requesting input regarding their association with MMCF (see supplemental information).

AGENCY RESPONSES Our audit report includes 12 findings and 14 corresponding recommendations. MMCF agreed with all of the recommendations and has taken or will take steps to implement the recommendations.