Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

State prisons director Crawford steps down

CARSON CITY -- An audit of the program on the early release of state prison inmates said there were problems with the program for state prisoners and there were no documents in most of the cases to show why the convicts gained additional credit for good behavior.

The state Division of Internal Audits said today there were 124 inmates who got out early under a program overseen by Jackie Crawford. Crawford resigned today as director of the Corrections Department.

The audit said, "The department (corrections) could not provide us with procedures, methodology or statute supporting the early release program."

The audit was ordered by Gov. Kenny Guinn after disclosure of the early release program and the controversy surrounding it. The examination of the prison policy was released by the governor's office shortly after it announced that Crawford is leaving her post.

Crawford is being transferred to a warden-level position and is expected to retire by the end of the year, said Michael Hillerby, Guinn's chief of staff. The resignation, the governor's office said, is due to medical reasons related to Crawford's bad back.

The governor named Glen Whorton as the department's new director. Whorton, 57, retired in January as deputy director after 27 years with the department.

Crawford was called into the governor's office on Monday to discuss her stepping down from the position, Hillerby said.

"It was a mutual discussion between our office and Jackie," he said.

Hillerby said there were other issues discussed as well, including some of the things that have plagued the department such as a recent escape and the issues raised in the audit.

"It was all part of the conversation, but this is largely due to her health," Hillerby said.

The audit found that 98 of the 124 inmates were released anywhere from one to 30 days early. "Additionally of the 98 inmates released early, we could not find any documentation supporting meritorious acts performed by the early released inmates."

Initially there were 176 names turned over to the auditors who may have been released early. But auditors said there were duplications and 124 convicts were freed before the required time.

Crawford previously said that most of those released early were from the conservation camps and they qualified for good time credits toward their freedom.

The auditors, however, found 41 were released from medium security prisons and the rest from minimum security prisons.

The audit found that Crawford started the early releases to free beds in medium security prisons, "due to perceived overcrowding." It said Crawford requested staff to create a list of low-risk inmates who were close to their previously scheduled release dates. Crawford reduced many of the inmate's sentences by issuing them meritorious award credits. But the auditors could not find any records supporting meritorious acts by these inmates.

One controversial case involved inmate James Yach, who was serving a term of 5-20 years a fatal DUI in Clark County. Yach, whose father once served as chief of the Clark County jail, was released after serving 8.5 years. The audit found Crawford reduced his term was reduced by 62 days for work he supposedly had performed during five previous year.

But the auditors said there was no documentation to support Crawford's reasoning. Yach received pay for some months but not others. "Therefore, we could not verify he was due all these credits."

Yach appealed on March 1 this year to recover credits he allegedly earned. Two days later Crawford approved the request.

The auditors said inmates must file a grievance to contest the shortage of their work credits. There was no evidence that a work appeal or grievance was filed.

"James (Yach) had to file his grievance within 60 days of discovery of the problem," said the audit. "This appeal occurred at least two years after the events. Therefore, he was too late to receive past work credits."

It found there were other questionable meritorious awards towards reducing prison terms.

It said Melissa Conlon, serving a burglary term of 1-4 years, was released 3.5 months early for meritorious service There was no explanation given for the meritorious service, the audit noted. Conlon, who was put in prison on July 15, 2002, had 16 disciplinary charges against her.

She was released on Jan. 14.

Barbara Haddox went into the prison on Jan. 22, 2004, to serve 1-4 years for burglary. She was released on July 2.

Her term was reduced by 3.5 months for meritorious service but there was no explanation in prison records. Auditors said Crawford told them that Barbara's father was dying and Crawford did not feel she could obtain a compassionate release in time. Therefore, she issued the credits. Barbara's father died before she was released from prison.

Two inmates -- Margaret Head and Michelle Miller -- received 10 days of credit for meritorious service for unplugging the drains in the showers.

The auditors said, "Since we only focused on the list and names provided to us, we cannot estimate the extent and propriety of other releases."

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