Grand Jury slams state prison mandate

Bobbie Foust/Herald Ledger Staff

A Lyon County Grand Jury came down hard on state mandated changes at the two prisons here in a supplemental report submitted Monday to Circuit Judge C.A. Woodall.
At the same time, the grand jury praised the prison wardens and their staffs for the efficiency and professionalism they exercised in “discharging their awesome responsibilities.” The panel agreed that Wardens Tom Simpson, Kentucky State Penitentiary, and Becky Pancake, Western Kentucky Correctional Complex, run the institutions with “outstanding organizational structure.”
While commending Simpson, Pancake and their staffs, the grand jury strongly recommended that state legislators and the Department of Corrections make several major changes:
 Raise the pay for correctional officers and staff.
“The salaries of these fine men and women are shameful,” said the report signed by foreman N.G. Finney Noffsinger. “They perform one of the most dangerous and stressful jobs one can imagine, as do law enforcement, and yet, the pay is woefully inadequate.”
The panel recognized the state’s current budgetary constraints, but said pay hikes should be placed on the “front burner” as soon finances improve.
The panel agreed there “is little doubt” the low pay is a factor in the high employee turnover.
 Discontinue private food service contract.
“We are distressed and concerned about the food services being operated by private industry,” the panel’s report said. “We were provided our lunch at Western Kentucky Correctional Complex, and those of us who had eaten at the center prior to privatization were greatly disturbed at the difference in the quality of the food.
“We, in the strongest terms, urge corrections to return to the previous system and utilize more inmate labor in the cooking and preparation of the food. This would provide them with less idle time and prepare them for perhaps an outside job in the food services industry.
 Return the complex to the farm business it once was. The grand jury’s report recalled that inmates at the complex had once grown their own vegetables and livestock in a farming business.
“Inmates were allowed to operate the farm, again providing less idle time and teaching them a skill,” the report said. “We believe that this function should be reviewed by corrections hierarchy in anticipation of once again operating the farm. We do not want the farm to go into competition with our local and state agricultural operations, but merely to provide ... inmates food stuffs in sufficient quantities to feed the inmate population statewide.”
 Bring back the upholstery and refinishing operation and other training programs at the complex.
“We are very concerned that certain vocational training that was being provided to inmates ... has either been eliminated or moved elsewhere,” grand jurors said. “We were shocked to see the unused spaces at the vocational school. ... This has taken away jobs for inmates and causes more idleness.
“Especially alarming was the removal of the upholstery and refinishing from (the complex here) to Green River Correctional Complex,” the report said. “... This community’s population tried in vain to convince former corrections leaders to retain this operation. Those many pleas fell on deaf ears.”
The panel demanded that corrections rethink the transfer and “respectfully requests return or could not corrections have two refinishing plants, one for Green River and one for Western Kentucky Correctional Complex.”
 Suggested the complex institute some type of stray pet care operation possibly in conjunction with humane societies in nearby counties. Some jurors voiced interest in volunteering to assist with such a program that would allow inmates to provide animal control and pet care.
 Voiced opposition to the state’s decision to release of up to 1,000 Class D and Class C felons early as a cost containment measure.
“Supposedly their release would be monitored by ankle bracelet, but we have our concerns as to whether this will actually be done, and if done properly, the actual cost compared to the cost of housing the proposed releasees,” the report said. “It is our opinion this is bad policy. Releasing inmates back to society prior to completion of a sentence can only lead to more crime and of course, placing the community at risk of immediate danger of death or serious physical injury.”
 Commended the action of the judge who imposed a sanction of 240 hours of community service on a grand juror who had been dismissed on a contempt charge that alleged breach of confidence.
“While some may think incarceration was mandated ... this juror was not a criminal, but made a mistake and admitted it,” the panel said. “We believe the sanction is sufficient.”