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50 percent of inmates idle at RC prisonBy MaryHelen Swanson ìIdleness is a bad thing in prison,î said Robert Feneis, warden at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Rush City. At a recent community advisory board meeting, the warden noted that about half of the approximately 1000 inmates are involved in programming. That includes support jobs (kitchen, etc.), prison industry and education. About 200 are in education, many to achieve a GED status, he said. The idleness rate is low compared to statewide, the warden said. Ideally, 75 percent to 80 percent should be in programming. Feneis said it is critical to reduce idleness for maximum prison management and that is something he plans to ìchip awayî. To keep the inmates busy, the offenders go outside at least once a day, have gym time and go the the dining hall for three meals. But for inmates not involved in programming, most of the time is spent in their cells. They are allowed into the commons area, also known as the ìflagî area, three- to four times a day. For best management, Warden Feneis said, they try to get them out of their cells as much as they can. Prisoners involved in industry work (about 9 percent of the inmates) receive 25 cents an hour with a maximum of four raises up to $1 an hour. Some of the work is through local companies, most recently the state has contracted for work sewing safety vests. Feneis said industry is managed by MinnCor, a state agency that is continually looking for industries to put in the prisons. Work done in the prison for interstate industries pays a prevailing wage but, by the time the prison gets done with deductions for such things as room and board, the hourly wage tops out at $1.20. Industry at the RC facility is light manufacturing, not heavy duty industry. Disturbances update The Nov. 29 disturbance, in which 38 offenders refused to go in their cells, caused a complete facility lockdown. It was not connected to the earlier incident, Feneis said. The initial complaint by the group of inmates, according to Feneis, was a change in scheduling, but other issues emerged including that there wasnít enough jobs and programming and they didnít like double-bunking. Feneis said none of these issues justified the disturbance and he called their actions inappropriate behavior. Staff was able to convince the inmates it was in their best interest to return to their cells, which they did after about 3 hours. Follow-up actions, Feneis said, included internal discipline for the offenders involved, county prosecution with outside criminal charges, an internal review of the prisonís emergency response procedures, enhanced staff training and physical plant improvements. With two local legislators, Rep. Peter Nelson and Sen. Sean Nienow, on hand for the community meeting last week, the group looked ahead to the upcoming Legislative session. Feneis noted that The Department of Corrections (DOC) is requesting $109 million in the bonding bill for expansion at the Faribault and Stillwater facilities. He said there are 7,000 inmates in the Minnesota correctional system today and the number is expected to go to 9,500 by 2010. To meet the needs for added beds, the DOC intends to double-bunk about 400 offenders at the St. Cloud and Stillwater facilities and rent beds from county facilities as needed. Money for Faribault will be used primarily to update the old facility. The request for the RC facility will be permission to add a portable classroom building so 50-60 more inmates can be in an education program. Feneis said the RC facility already has the money needed for this expansion, it merely needs approval from the Legislature. Feneis noted that the other big issue for the DOC at the Legislature this year will be Level 3 sex offenders and what to do with them. The main issue will be dealing with the ìoldî sex offenders, Feneis said, ones that have served their time and are eligible to be released. Mobile firing range to be purchased The cost is approximately $225,000, but, according to Lt. Dave Gurney, not as expensive as an outdoor range. Gurney had prepared a proposal last year for such a firing range, but it appeared to be cost prohibitive due in part for the need to abate lead. The group discussed the fact that staff is not armed, but has ability to become armed. Gurney also explained how chemical force is used from a small canister that is carried by the staff. Economic impact It is expected that spending at local businesses will be near $400,000 in 2004. That doesnít include electricity from East Central Energy, expected to be about $350,000, the approximately $400,000 payment to reimburse the city of Rush City for infrastructure improvements, nor the money spent locally with gas and purchasing cards. The Rush City prison has an annual operating budget of $21 million and a payroll of $12,770,000. There are 327 employees. Also, the prison recently hired Jon Shafer as chaplain. ©ECM Post Review |