Press Release

July 26, 2012

Audit Finds Prison Staffing is Generally Well Managed

Department of Corrections scheduling and overtime minimizes state costs

The Secretary of State Audits Division released a report today that found overtime and personnel costs at two state prisons were generally well managed. The Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) spent about $540 million during the 2009-2011 biennium for security personnel who directly supervise offenders. The 30-page audit analyzed security personnel costs at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility and Two Rivers Correctional Institution, considering payroll, budgeting, staffing, scheduling, and accounting functions.

Auditors noted some areas where improvements may be possible, but did not identify substantial savings or inefficiencies in the management of overtime or personnel costs at the two correctional facilities.

“The Department of Corrections has done a good job of containing the costs to run these two prisons,” said Secretary of State Kate Brown. “The auditors went through several years of scheduling decisions with special attention to all the places where savings might be found.”

Auditors analyzed past payroll data to assess facility staffing and concluded the approved staffing factor was reasonable. Auditors also noted that furloughs may not achieve savings in a correctional environment and add administrative burdens. The audit also illustrates how overtime can reduce costs, if used effectively, since the cost of maintaining a higher overall staffing level can be more expensive than inconsistent overtime.

The report, including the agency response, can be found at www.sos.state.or.us/audits.

For more information, please contact:
Tony Green
Communications Director
tony.green@state.or.us
(503) 507-0082