Nwscf

[VTYankee]

Hey VTCO is the rumor true about ST.Albans, are they making that a womens prison? I was told they are closing 1 prison up there?

[Gaoler]

Yep. NWSCF is turning into a women's facility. They are closing Dale in Waterbury and restructuring Windsor into a male workcamp. I'll post the stuff detailing it all. Most of it's a load of crock****.

[VTYankee]

What are they doing with the officers? are they getting to move to other prisons?

[Gaoler]

From the most recent email from Commissioner Hoffman:

I wish to update you on the major legislative action impacting VT DOC, deliver some bad news on manager/exempt pay and note Public Employee Recognition Week.

• Public Service Recognition Week:

I want to express my deep appreciation to all our capable, hardworking DOC employees for your efforts to make Vermont a better place to live for our communities.

Monday Governor Douglas recognized public employees from the various departments who have distinguished themselves through exemplary service. David Peebles, who manages Community and Restorative Justice programs, was honored as DOC’s employee of the year. He was recognized for his hard work and accomplishments on projects like transitional housing, community justice centers, high-risk offender notification/reentry, Offender Responsibility Plans, victim services, quality assurance, and Offender Benefit Reconnection. David is particularly capable at allocating scarce resources to ensure that we are maximizing state dollars. I most appreciate Dave's 1) ability to quickly distill complex issues down to clear and concise summaries 2) his strategic, yet common-sense thinking 3) his willingness to volunteer to take on assignments outside his particular areas of responsibility. If we were a baseball team, he would be a versatile MVP utility player.

Dave follows our other recent employees of the year, Correctional Officers Mike Jacobs of NSCF (2007) and Joe Aldrich of NWSCF (2006).

The formal DOC annual Reward and Recognition Ceremony will be held in the Senate Chamber of the Vermont State Capital on Friday, May 23rd. Governor Douglas and Secretary La Ware will join us to recognize some of the Department’s Top Performers, Recipient’s of the Life Saving Awards and those colleagues who have achieved their 25th & 30th Anniversaries of Service. If you missed the opportunity to nominate a fellow employee, I encourage you to considering doing so next year.

I would also like to note that our colleague Sue Ransom-Kelly from Southern State is being recognized by Dismas House Rutland for her over 20 years of service to VT DOC and her nearly as lengthy support to this valued transitional housing provider.

• Corrections Legislation:

H. 859 Legislative Committee of Conference Report 5/2/2008

STATEMENT OF NEED:

The legislation finds the incarcerated population and the consequent budget demands of the Department of Corrections have been growing at an unsustainable rate for the past two decades. The fastest growing inmate segment is property and drug offenders, many of whom are substance abusers.

In order to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and reduce the cost to Vermonters for incarcerating offenders, a coordinated strategy is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THIS LEGISLATION:

Based on recommendations from the Council on State Governments and the DOC’s Plan to Reduce Correctional Costs and Achieve Savings for Reinvestment, the bill:

• (Sec 2) Explicitly authorizes the commissioner to use of out-of-state facilities.
• (Sec 3, 7, 10) Authorizes corrections to use electronic monitoring for any offender on Conditional Reentry, Furlough, Parole, and Probation.
• (Sec 4) Establishes administrative probation for certain non-violent misdemeanors.
• (Sec 5 b) Prohibits courts from establishing conditions of probation not related to rehabilitation or reduction of risk to public safety.
• (Sec 5 d) Creates incentives for probationers requiring DOC to review probation cases midway and allowing DOC to petition the court for reduction of the remaining term.
• (Sec 6) Sets caseload capacities for probation officers and provides authority for DOC to meet demands.
• (Sec 8, 9F) Requires screening and, if appropriate, assessment of each felony drug and property offender prior to release on furlough or conditional reentry.
• (Sec 9E) Authorizes the use of reintegration furlough 180 days prior to minimum release date for felony DUI offenses (including DUI 3 or greater, or DUI with death or injury resulting) if electronic/technological tools are used.
• (Sec 11, 12) Prohibits the housing of incapacitated persons in facilities operated by DOC (not effective until FY 2011). Note: next legislature could elect to rescind.
• (Sec 13) Requires the DOC to report to the Corrections Oversight Committee on plans and costs to establish a transitional housing unit at the Northwest State Correctional Facility.

• (Sec 14) Implements Correctional facility restructuring in FY2009:
  • Closes the Dale Women’s facility.
  • Re-Tasks Windsor as a Work Camp facility for men.
  • Closes sections of the NorthwestState facility and converts to Women’s facility.
  • Provides detention housing consistent with capital bill provision providing $20,000 for two holding cells for St. Albans Police Department.
  • Provides additional protections for State employees in positions affected by the restructuring.
  • Requires DOC to work with community-based organizations to provide services for women.

The goal of this bill is to create some $3-5 million in FY 2010 savings from the DOC budget:

[Gaoler]

(Sec 15) The bill reallocates $600,000 from the DOC FY 2009 budget to:

• Increase capacity of the Intensive Substance Abuse Program ($100,000).
• Establish a pilot program and study of Drug Courts ($200,000).
• Provide substance abuse assessment for inmates prior to release ($88,000).
• Provide funds for substance abuse treatment and vocational training at the Windsor work camp facility ($150,000).
• Provide substance abuse treatment contracts for community treatment providers ($62,000).
• Note: the cost savings are likely to be a little less in the FY 2009 yet more in FY 2010, so the start of the investments may be delayed a few months.

The bill reallocates funds from the DOC FY 2010 budget to:

• Continue funding for the Drug/Mental Health Courts pilot program.
• Provide resources for Transitional Housing for 10 beds of long term reentry ($150,000).
• Increase funding for community Substance Abuse Treatment ($200,000).
• Increase funding for Transitional Housing, to include housing assistance and life skills programming ($1,200,000).
• Expand the ISAP program to include a residential component ($365,000).
• Increases funding for vocational training and residential substance abuse programs at work camps ($650,000).
• Provide funding for recovery centers ($110,000).
• Increase funding for ISAP programs for drug abuse treatment for pre-approved furlough ($50,000).
• Provide funding to expand the availability of public inebriate beds ($150,000).
• Provide funding for electronic monitoring equipment ($211,000).

(Sec 16) The bill creates a statewide drug court study.

(Sec 17) The bill creates a Public Inebriates Task Force.

(Sec 18) The bill establishes a set of benchmarks and reports to the legislature. This section requires coordinated documentation of impact by the Joint Fiscal office and the Office of Finance and Management. The section also requires a study of the effectiveness of Administrative Probation by the VermontCenter for Justice Research.

(Sec 19) The bill requires a report from the commissioner of corrections and the secretary of human services on how to provide support and assistance to the children of incarcerated parents.

(Sec 20) The bill authorizes the Joint Corrections Oversight Committee to meet six times before January, 2009.

(Sec 21) The bill requires a report from the Law Enforcement Advisory Board on procedures to respond to children of arrested parents.


To implement the restructuring we are assembling work teams under the direction of Lisa Menard. Each group will be charged with identifying issues, required action steps and a detailed timeline.


· FY 2009 Pay Increases for Exempt Employees and Classified Employees Who are NOT in the Bargaining Unit

Due to the current State Fiscal problems, pay increases have been eliminated in FY 2009 for Exempt Employees and Classified Employees Who are NOT in the Bargaining Unit who earn over $60,000 a year. The Exempt Employee decision was made by the Secretary of Administration - the Classified (but Not-in-Bargaining-Unit) Employee decision by the Legislature.

This only impacts a small number of our co-workers. Deputy Commissioner Pallito and I clearly understand the need for us to lead by example, but are sorry that this burden also falls on some of our very-hardest-working colleagues who have risen through the ranks to shoulder the substantial burden and responsibility of leadership. We will see that the letter which outlines this development is posted to the DOC Intra-net site.

[Gaoler]

Also see http://www.doc.state.vt.us/news-info...ructuring-memo for more info.