Prison cutbacks building 'powder keg,' director says

Director of Corrections Howard Skolnik told the Interim Finance Committee on Thursday that budget cuts are "building a powder keg" that will eventually result in serious security and safety problems.

He said things will get even more tense when he implements furloughs starting July 1.

To cut spending and overtime, Skolnik said he has reduced visitation by 22 days in the past six weeks, left some towers unmanned, canceled programs, reduced training hours and ordered partial lockdowns 31 different times.

But those cuts have caused rising tensions, leading to more incidents, Skolnik said.

He said two officers have been assaulted at Southern Desert Correctional Center in the past 10 days, "the first unprovoked staff assaults that I can remember at that facility since I joined the department in 1987."

Despite those efforts, Skolnik said his budget will still be about $2.5 million short this year.

He and fiscal officer Jeff Moellenkamp told the committee that shortfall is unavoidable. About $1 million of the total, they said, is because of the lack of inmate jobs in the community, in the conservation camps and prison industries due to the recession.

The system also got hit when it lost federal funding for HIV medications. A new contract with Renown medical center, Skolnik said, will fix that next year.

Asked whether he was going to implement furloughs in July, Skolnik said he has no choice.

"We don't have a whole lot left to give up," he said.

Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, questioned the overtime the department is still having to pay, asking why he hasn't implemented 12-hour shifts to reduce overtime.

Skolnik said that wouldn't actually save any money but instead cost more in overtime. He also said his department has dramatically reduced overtime from an average of more than $5 million a year to just $2.5 million this year.

"I think we're doing extremely well" he said.

Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, questioned the department's shortfall, pointing out that IFC has already given Skolnik $4 million to exempt his officers from furloughs.

"I offered you $19 million and you didn't accept it," he said, referring to his recommendation that Nevada State Prison be shut down to save that amount. Lawmakers rejected that recommendation, ordering the department to keep NSP open.