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StumblePrison director may resign if cuts exceed 14 percent
Published Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008 | 11:45 a.m.
Updated Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008 | 4:48 p.m.
Sun archives
CARSON CITY – Corrections Director Howard Skolnik has told the state Prison Board he would quit if the future prisons budget is cut by more than 14 percent.
Earlier in the day a union of correctional officers has called for the resignation of Skolnik, saying morale is at an all-time low in the prisons and there is mismanagement.
At a 2 1/2 hour meeting of the board, Skolnik said, “We can cut 14 percent without jeopardizing staff and inmates.” But he said he “draw the line in the sand” at the 14 percent.
There’s been some speculation that the budget reductions may be more than 14 percent with the failing economy. The director said he would “not preside” over that large a cutback and indicated he would hand in his resignation.
But Skolnik said earlier he would not resign as requested by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union Local 4041 that said there was poor management by some of the Skolnik’s staff, putting guards and inmates at risk.
During the meeting there was testimony from prison correctional officers about the problems and the poor morale. And relatives of inmates also called for improvement in the prison system. There was testimony that the correctional officers and inmates may be at risk.
But the three prison board members backed Skolnik, at least initially.
Secretary of State Ross Miller, who presided as chairman of the board in the absence of Gov. Jim Gibbons, said he had confidence in Skolnik but there were “significant issues” that have to be resolved. He said he would evaluate the performance of Skolnik based on his handling of the challenges that meet the prison.
Gibbons, in Washington D.C. “has full faith in Howard Skolnik to lead the Department of Prisons,” said Gibbons’ press secretary Ben Kieckhefer.
He said the governor believes Skolnik has been “very responsive” to the concerns of the correctional officers. For instance, Skolnik, in a budget saving move, proposed eliminating shift differential pay but when there were complaints, he withdraw the suggestion.
“The governor believes he is doing it (the budget reductions) very responsibly,” Kieckhefer said. Gibbons is in Washington D.C. and not available.
Attorney General Catherine Masto, also a member of the prison board, said she had “no concerns” with the management of the corrections system by Skolnik. But at the meeting, she pressed the corrections director to be more aggressive in pushing for fund to operate the prison.
Masto said Skolnik has to make the decision where the inmates and staff are in danger because of lack of money. “I’m not hearing you that the 14 percent is the breaking point,” she told the corrections director.
Masto said the Legislature would look to Skolnik for leadership whether the 14 percent could be sliced from the budget. Skolnik replied, “We can cut 14 percent without jeopardizing the staff and inmates.”
But James Hardesty, a justice on the Nevada Supreme Court and chairman of a study on justice, told the committee the prisons were already overcrowded. They are at 146 over capacity and he said, “They are making cuts to an already underfunded system.”
Hardesty said, “You can’t operate at this capacity” and it’s a recipe for “very serious consequences” not only for the safety of the officers and inmates but “it exposes the state to serious legal consequences.”
The prison system, said Hardesty has spent $8.1 million in overtime and it would be less expensive to have more workers to reduce the overtime. For instance, he said the addition of 10 workers at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City would save $270,000 because it would cut overtime.
There’s no system, said Hardesty to prepare inmates for re-entry into society and there are “serious medical needs” for the more than 1,700 inmates who are 50 years old and older.
And he advocated releasing alien inmates to their country if they are not sex offenders or dangerous.
Dennis Mallory, director of the union, said correctional officers at the Nevada State Prison are being required to work 16 hours a day, including from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. when there is the most movement of the inmates.
Officers are tired and this can cause lapses in security, said Mallory.
In addition, he said the department has hired young people who are not certified as peace officers at the maximum security prison in Ely. He said if these “kids are left alone it could result in a dangerous situation.”
Mallory said union is gathering information to present to a grand jury of “blatant violations” of the law that are endangering the correctional officers and inmates.
Skolnik said he was “disappointed” that union members didn’t come to him with their concerns. He said he offered to include them in the proposed 14 percent cuts in the budget. “I guess this is how they responded.”
And he doubted the moral of the officers and executives are at an all-time low. These cutbacks are a national problem, not limited to Nevada he said.
Miller said prior to the meeting he was unhappy that inmates in Las Vegas were allowed to go out and seek voter registrations.
Skolnik told the board that those 59 inmates were hired by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform (ACORN) to register voters. That was a violation of the law and the director said the administration was “remiss” in not checking out what the inmates were to do.
He said the inmates housed at Casa Grande were immediately pulled off the job when the department learned of the activities. These prisoners were non-violent, were not sex offenders and only one was in prison for identity theft.
“There is no reason to believe there was any identity theft,” Skolnik said. The investigation is continuing.
The attorney general wanted to know if those who were signed up to vote by the prisoners have been notified. Skolnik said he had no way to know the names of those who were signed up.
The director said there are other state investigations going on into the incident.
Cy Ryan may be reached at (775) 687 5032 or cy@lasvegassun.com.
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Gibbons is not in Nevada, he is in Washington beating the bush for sage grouse; no birds but he has found "the crabs".
The reason Skolnik has no support is he slaps correctional staff in the face daily. He does not care and is not fiscally responsible. His request to cose NSP is because the staff fights for their rights. He has bee quoted by top management as saying that NSP is going and so is the staff. The call fr his and Warden Donat resignation is long over due. For Skolnik to saythe inmaters for voter fraud were pulled off as soon as they knew is not true. Inmates cannot work at places unless approved by the prison. So he and his administration new this. How many of those inmates cased the public home to burgalrize. He places the staff in harms way does not care and the public is at risk with his plan to close NSP. Yet he holds a BBQ and th state pays for the food for all the Directors from other state agency. Miller you need to look deep into its time for change in the NDOC. Skolnik, Donat, Deputy Director Cox and Connet all need to go tee are people he broght in from the outside and ruined a good organization who has pride in their profession. Miller and Maesto for Governor and use your powers and force his resignation for the good of all peace oficer and correctional staff who serve this state
Howard Skolnik is attempting to close down another prison when the prison system is over capacity now!! He has said that NSP uses 200 staffers to watch 900 inmates, whereas HDSP uses 122 staffers to watch 1200 inmates and NSP is inefficient. Actually, NSP has only 156 legislatively approved correctional officer positions. HDSP has 367. NSP does have around 900 inmates, and HDSP has around 2400. Where is the figures that Skolnik comes up with? Skolnik has also said that he has offered to sit down with officers for their input as to where to cut the 14%. The only thing he has asked officers for is to help close NSP in the easiest way possible. In other words, don't try and fight for your job, just sit back and accept what I am doing to you. His numbers are skewed. He could not even tell the board of prison commissioners how many prisoners in County jails are waiting to be taken into the custody of the State. Isn't that his job? He has tried to make the situation worse than it is, and he is trying way too hard to close down NSP. Why? There must be some kind of angle that will put money into his pocket. Skolnik has also said that before he lays off a single correctional officer he would resign. Put your money where your mouth is Mr. director. Or is that just another lie to add to the heap that you have told already.
Employees are at risk now because of all the staff vacancies. When will the Board of Prison Commisionrs and the Governor step in. What will it take an employee or inmate death. The severe understfaffing is taing its toll on employees and he understaffing is due to satisfying this Governor and not looking at Public Safety.
Good, that will go a long way in reducing the shortfall.
If you are going to post a comment and expect to be taken seriously, check your spelling, grammar etc. "Prison Guards" usually can't spell but "Correctional Officers" can. The fact is that NSP is too expensive to maintain. It's a sinking ship. It is fiscally responsible to shut it down. Skolnik is doing the best he can with the resources he gets.
Skolnik is a danger to everyone involved. He has absolutely no respect for the law and allows his subordinate employees (two wardens in particular) to trample all over the constitution, causing the state millions in defending and paying out meritorious lawsuits. The governor KNOWS all about this and doesn't care. Personally, I have talked to the governor's office on at least four occasions and have asked them to get involved as a last ditch effort to avoid litigation and the governor's office totally ignores me, so a little tiny thing turns into a huge costly lawsuit and the taxpayers of Nevada bear the brunt of the costs while everything else in the state goes to s**t. Let's hope this C/O's union has some balls and will stick to it.
I don't know how I missed this article in November, but I did. So let me contribute my comment: How in the world do you expect the public to agree with your babyish whining when the taxpayer's money is spent on your inflated salaries, and overtime. When is the last time, you spoke up for the convicted felons, and stated your witnessing of abuse in this correctional system? Tell the tax paying public of the power of your pens, written violations and your loud mouthed abuses that you use daily to intimidate and abuse the felons under your scrutiny. Come on, we all know Skolnik is milking the system and is a fool in the eyes of most taxpayers, but the alleged abuses you speak of are nothing compared to what the convicted and their families face everyday
Tell the public about the wardens, and name them, and their abuses of administration segregation 24/7. (For the unknowing taxpayer that's lock up 24 hours a day-everyday.Sometimes for years.) Tell the taxpayer how to live on $2.17 a day for the food allowance. Food, most times, isn't fit for a pig.
And you want sympathy for the abuses you suffer under your director of Prisons, Mr.Skolnut? Skolnut is only part of the problem: The associate wardens, captains, and all those under that line of command who are ruthless and cowards for fair play. To you guards and the felons they control. When you abused guards gladly collect your paychecks backing up and won't quit an abusive system, and refuse to mention all sides of the abuses. Tough s**t! You deserve no sympathy. The ones that need relief from you whining dogs is the Nevada taxpayer. Get rid of Skolnut. Immediately! Get rid of ALL abuses in this putrid system--and I'll support anything that is fair. As a taxpayer, and I pay plenty, Man-up and do the right thing! Until then...PUT UP OR SHUT UP!