HD39 - Review of DOC Nonsecurity Staffing and the Inmate Programming Schedule


Executive Summary:
House Joint Resolution 115, approved by the 1996 Session of the General Assembly, directed the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) to conduct: (1) a study of the nonsecurity staffing needs in Virginia's adult correctional institutions with a focus on medical and treatment staff, and (2) an analysis of the hourly programming schedule in § 53.1-32.1 of the Code of Virginia to determine the appropriate level of inmate programming to be accomplished by 1998. This report contains the staff findings and recommendations regarding these and other issues related to nonsecurity staffing and inmate programming in Department of Corrections' (DOC) adult facilities.

This study found that, systemwide, nonsecurity staffing levels are generally appropriate to provide a basic level of services to DOC's adult inmate population and operate the various facilities. However, analysis conducted for this study indicates that additional nurse positions are warranted for four institutions and contract physician staffing should be actively monitored by DOC for both adequacy and cost effectiveness. Reductions in inmate treatment staffing have increased counselor caseloads systemwide, reducing their ability to provide increased levels of inmate programming.

In terms of the amount of inmate programming to be provided, the results of this review indicate that the hourly inmate programming schedule in § 53.1-32.1 of the Code is not feasible for DOC to achieve at this time due to a number of structural and nonstructural factors. However, DOC should increase its departmental goal of 24 hours of inmate programming per week to reflect the 31 hours of programming per week that wardens and superintendents reported was feasible for their facilities to provide beginning July 1998.

In addition to JLARC's analyses of nonsecurity staffing needs and DOG'S inmate programming schedule, this report also includes a supplementary review, which was requested by the Public Safety Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee in April 1997. This analysis, which is attached as Appendix C, makes recommendations regarding DOC's Management Information Systems Division.