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| 2/10/2010 5:01:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | Zavaras talks about state of CDOC in current economy
Kathy Davis
Times Reporter
During a visit with Buena Vista Correctional Complex employees and The Times Feb. 9, Colorado Department of Corrections executive director Ari Zavaras shared information on what is happening at the Colorado Department of Corrections. He talked about the state of CDOC given current economic times and state budget cuts.
Zavaras said he also wanted people to know about what he is focusing upon and proposals for the 2010-2011 CDOC budget.
"I like to communicate the best way I can and touch as many people as I can. I want to let the community know what we are doing and how we are doing it," Zavaras said. Buena Vista Correctional Complex is a major contributor to the community and wants to be a good neighbor, he said. An example of one of the major contributions to the community is the inmate work crews out shoveling snow in Buena Vista Feb. 9, he said. The number of employees at BVCC is around 400, he said. A sample of other programs at BVCC helping the community is the dog-training program at the facility.
The fiscal year for CDOC runs from July to the end of June. The department of corrections is preparing the next budget, the 2010-2011 budget. In the past couple of budget years, the CDOC employees have seen no pay raises and that probably won't change in the next year's budget, Zavaras said. State employees also were required to take eight furlough days without pay. With the 2009 budget cuts, there was no increase in the budget to cover inflation for the cost of the food for the prison complexes. Colorado Department of Corrections is still replacing retirees even during a hiring freeze, he said.
"Revenues continue to decline and there will be further adjustments," he said. Zavaras said the state and CDOC are looking for a lot of different options for the next fiscal year. Every option is on the table, he said.
Zavaras discussed two budget proposals for the next budget year. One proposal is to create as much efficiency as the department can. One way to create efficiency is to deliver programs in a better way. Part of the programs improvement would be to continue focusing on improving the recidivism rate. Over a period of six months, July through December 2009, there was a decrease in the prison population. The decrease in the prison population had a positive impact on the budget, he said. The number of inmates in CDOC facilities was decreased by 62 males and by 24 females each month for six months.
Accelerated transition or early release of inmates included only parole-eligible inmates with heavy services or help for the inmate when the inmate was released. The number of early releases was small, he said.
Other ways to be more efficient are to look at the utilities for the facilities. Renewable energy, such as solar energy, is something to look at, Zavaras said.
Prisons do have issues, Zavaras said. Incidents are increasing, he said. The Department of Corrections has seen a 20 percent increase in inmate assaults on inmates and a 10 percent increase in inmate assaults on staff. The gang population has doubled. In 2009, there were 176 lockdowns - all inmates locked in cells. Lockdowns are staff-intensive, he said.
An issue for CDOC is having enough high-security beds for close-custody inmates. Buena Vista Correctional Complex is a medium-security prison with a large number of high-security or close-custody inmates. The number of close-custody inmates is approaching about 40 percent at BVCC and 47 percent at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility.
For next year's budget, Zavaras proposed the opening of the new high-security prison, Colorado State Penitentiary II, in the east Cañon City complex area. This new prison is still under construction. Zavaras said he is looking at completing and opening the newly built facility or at least opening enough high-security beds for close-custody inmates. "The big question is to come up with the money to open CSP II," he said. If close-custody inmates are moved out of BVCC, other inmates with lower security levels will replace them, he said.
Gov. Bill Ritter emphasizes that public safety is still the number-one priority, Zavaras said. Ritter has indicated there is enough money in the next year's budget to open CSP II, he said.
While working on the budget and possible cuts for the next year, Zavaras said he plans to maintain services. He attributes the capability to maintain services to the quality of employees working for CDOC.
"Most staff is very proud of what they do," he said. The department has 6,500 employees. This number will stay the same, Zavaras said.
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