Corrections Leaders Describe Programming, Oversight Methods at L.A. Hearing

LOS ANGELES — While Los Angeles County Jails remained in lockdown following deadly race riots involving about 1,000 prisoners, corrections leaders discussed ways to create positive change at facilities and the merits of oversight from within correctional agencies Thursday morning during the final hearing of the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons.

Once the hearing concludes at Loyola Marymount University, the 21-member commission will create a report from its findings, which include testimony from three other hearing held throughout the United States since last April.

During testimony Thursday, Scott Harshbarger, former Massachusetts attorney general and current chair of the Governor’s Commission on Corrections reform, discussed the difficulties he has encountered while monitoring the Massachusetts prison system.

Harshbarger said there is often little interest from legislators and others in his state to reform correctional facilities to create greater efficiencies and results. He said a “No news is good news” approach is often taken and there is no effort to hold the state’s correctional agency responsible for its $500 million budget.

“The public is entitled to know how we spend that money and with what results,” Harshbarger said.

He said the matter is further complicated by some people in the correctional industry that have a financial interesting in maintaining the status quo. He said an excessive burden is placed on prison workers who have been forced to tackle issues – such as mental health and housing for prisoners re-entering society – that could be handled by other agencies.

“This is a dangerous, difficult job with very few rewards and we are lucky that we have as many good people doing it as we do,” Harshbarger said.

Dora Schriro, director of corrections in Arizona, who also testified before the commission, echoed the need for more incentives for prison workers.

“We need a significant pay increase for our staff,” Schriro said. “We’re losing them and we need them.”

The commission also heard from Harley Lappin, Federal Bureau of Prisons director, who outlined steps taken within the agency self-regulate. Among other regulatory measures, the FBOP includes an annual employee survey in its audit process that allows staff to confidentially report concerns and policy violations.

Michael Ashe, who has served as sheriff of Hamden County, Mass., for 31 years, elaborated on programs in place at the county jail that hold inmates accountable for their actions. He invites 50 to 75 college interns to come to work at the facility and inmates are required to engage in 40 hours of work or programming a week.

“The key aspect is reintegration back into the community,” Ashe said.