No results released in NLV jail audit

Lisa Snedeker

Monday, Dec. 21, 1998 | 11:20 a.m.

An audit of the North Las Vegas Detention Center has been completed and the City Council will be presented with its findings at a workshop in late January or early February, according to City Manager Pat Importuna.

While Importuna said he has received a draft of the audit, he said he could not reveal any of its findings before it was presented to the council.

He did say, however, that it deals with all aspects of the facility, including staffing, policy and procedures and the rates it charges other entities to house inmates such as Metro Police.

The audit is the first in a series the city is conducting of all its departments. The next audit will involve the police department.

"We wanted a third party to come in and look at all the operations in the city," Importuna said.

Importuna stressed that the goal of the audits is not to downsize city employees, but to help them run the city more efficiently.

"Third parties can sometimes see things clearer. We want to make sure we are doing the right things with the right people in the most cost effective manner," he said. "The audit becomes a working tool for department directors."

Chief of Detention and Corrections Ken Ellingson was not available to comment on the audit.

Justice Data Systems of America Inc. conducted the detention center audit. The amount of the contract was $28,000.

Earlier this year the City Council was concerned about the detention center when it learned of anticipated shortfalls during preliminary budget hearings.

Council members ultimately recommended the city hire a consultant to determine how the jail could raise its revenues. A request for proposals was issued in June and the city hired the auditing firm in September.