HomeMy WebLinkAbout20080607.tiff AVALON
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, INC
& Southern Corrections Systems, Inc.
(a wholly owned subsidiary)
THE VILLA
1750 6th Avenue • Greeley, Colorado 80631
Telephone 970-353-9263 or 877-602-5735 • Fax 970-353-0520
Office of Board of County Commissioners
915 10th Street
Greeley, CO 80632
Re: Notice of Noncompliance
Dear Sirs:
Upon receipt of the letter of Notice of Noncompliance Southern Corrections Systems,
Inc. (SCS) has formulated a response to the Memorandum dated November 15, 2007
from Carl A. Blesch, Manager, Office of Community Corrections, Division of Criminal
Justice, Colorado Department of Public Safety ("the Blesch Memorandum"), as well as
the Weld County Commissioners.
Contained in this letter are responses and clarifications to the "Blesch Memorandum" and
the Critical Corrections.
Critical Correction#1
Within a defined period of time, the facility must develop and demonstrably implement a
security plan that allows for a minimum of the following:
Physical plant revisions that increase the challenge to secrete or import
contraband, including but not limited to changes in fencing, outdoor lighting,
security surveillance and staffing patrols.
Staffing changes, including the addition security staff personnel, sufficient to
provide 24/7 offender management in all areas that offenders can access on the
property, including the laundry area
A plan to eliminate unlawful smoking within the residential areas of the facility.
Facility Response:
The facility has adapted the facility and constructed new perimeter fencing as well as the
addition of permanent outdoor lighting in the courtyard and surrounding areas.
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New staff offices have been constructed on each floor that will be staffed 24/7. This will
allow for more direct supervision of all offenders within the facility.
Currently, the facility has adopted a strict adherence to a no smoking facility. Currently
clients are allowed to smoke in the designated courtyard. Any client caught smoking in
the facility will be reprimanded pursuant to the internal policies and procedures as well as
the Colorado Community Corrections Standards. This will be accomplished through the
denial of earned time and the facility pursuing disciplinary actions through the
Department of Corrections.
Critical Correction#2
Within a defined time period, the facility must develop and demonstrably implement a
disturbance training plan that provides for a minimum of the following:
A response plan requiring that law enforcement officers will IMMEDIATELY be
notified before anyone else when an in-progress incident could reasonably be
expected to cause injury to life or limb, or significant property damage.
Training regarding staff behaviors during major and minor disturbances, including
techniques designed to promote both staff and offender safety.
Training for on-call supervisors regarding the appropriate response to
disturbances that occur during off hours.
Facility Response:
Current operating policies and procedures exist that instruct staff to contact the
appropriate law enforcement officials during an"In Progress" event. It should be noted
that the night in question, the disturbance had concluded prior to the staff being notified.
Once staff was aware, the Greeley police Department was notified and did in fact respond
to the facility.
Staff is trained in emergency procedures in their initial orientation process. Ongoing
training is completed where the emergency procedures are reviewed.
Critical Correction#3
Within a defined period of time,the facility must develop and demonstrably implement a
facility offender management records-keeping plan, with appropriate and universal staff
training, that allows for a minimum of the following:
Strict adherence to the timely, meaningful completion and distribution of all
required reports regarding:
1. Incidents in the facility
2. Criminal Conduct, such as sexual contact between staff members and
clients
3. Grievance Documentation
4. Documentation related to headcounts, facility searches of every kind and
off-site client monitoring
Facility Response:
All Time frames for notification will be met in the future. All allegations of criminal
conduct will be forwarded to the appropriate agencies for investigation. It should be
noted that the Department of Corrections was notified of possible unethical conduct on
the behalf of a staff member as soon as it was discovered by the facility. The individual
resigned and the allegations were unproven.
Grievance documentation is completed and is filed in a central file for all agencies to
review. These grievances are responded to in accordance with local policies and
procedures.
It was noted that the Division of Criminal Justice did acknowledge that the facility has
made progress in the area of documentation of searches as well as head count
documentation. The Off site monitoring has significantly increased during the time of the
audit.
Critical Correction#4
Within a defined period of time,the facility must employ, train and properly supervise
case management and clinical personnel, as required by state regulations.
Facility Response:
All Case Managers currently employed do meet the requirements of the Colorado
Community Corrections Standards. This information was again submitted to the Division
of Criminal Justice for further clarification.
Clinical staff are either licensed or being supervised in accordance with the Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Division.
Critical Correction#5
Within a defined period of time, the facility must develop and demonstrably implement a
treatment records keeping plan that provides for the timely and complete preparation of
record uniquely related to each offender, including each stage of treatment, from intake
through discharge.
Facility Response:
The facility currently has and uses policies and procedures that are dedicated to the
record keeping of all treatment related records in accordance with local policy, state
standards as well as Federal requirements. These records are client specific and relate to
the individual treatment of each individual located in the Residential Treatment Center.
It should also be noted that the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) was recently
on site and completed a full review of client records as well as client treatment. The
initial results were that all of the recommendations and "Critical Corrections" related to
offender treatment were satisfied. It is our understanding that the ADAD report will
reflect this as well and will soon be made available.
We understand the concerns of the County Commissioners of Weld County. Our pledge
is that all areas of concern either are corrected or are in the process of correction. It is
also our wish to continue to provide the needed services of a Community Corrections
facility in Weld County and provide those services at a level that is commensurate with a
first class facility.
We welcome the hiring of the contract monitor. We will cooperate fully with Mr. Reidi
and will take all of his recommendations into consideration. We are confident that at the
end of his contract period the County Commissioners of Weld County, Weld County
Community Corrections Board, and the numerous other State Agencies will be satisfied
with the results of his monitoring.
We respectfully request a meeting/working session with the Weld County Commissioners
to address any issues.
If there are any further questions and or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Matthew Brucklacher,
Administrator
Cc: James Sallie, President Avalon Correctional Services
Eric Gray, Cooperate Counsel
Chris Villalobos, Vice President of Colorado Operations
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