CA: Governor aims to cut prison watchdog - Agency Has Thwarted Numerous Problems

Mercury News ^ | 2/1/04 | Mark Gladstone

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO - The state's independent prison watchdog agency, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to eliminate because it's a ``waste,'' has uncovered tens of millions in potential savings and exposed dangerous conditions in the state's prisons.

In hundreds of pages of confidential reports and summaries obtained by the Mercury News, investigators from the Office of the Inspector General provide a grim indictment of a system unable to root out corruption or curb skyrocketing costs.

[NormsRevenge]

Penny-wise - Pound Foolish ? :-\

[NormsRevenge]

.

[AmericanVictory]

Bump!

[calcowgirl]

The governor also wants to cut the office's budget from $2.8 million to $630,000

Hey Arnie... why not triple their budget and IMPLEMENT some of the recommendations. Being the great business man you are, surely return on investment is a concept you are familiar with.

[breakem]

If you're following the recent stories and hearings on the CDC you will know that the internal affairs operation was totally corrupted by a powerful union and corrupt administration. The inspector general is independent from the department and should be maintained until the next director shows that he can run an ethical investigative office. Then, and not before, the governor could reconsider eliminating the inspector general's office.

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks. There are reasons why the independency was established and to yank this agency back under the wing of another administration prematurely or otherwise begs for rethinking.

[breakem]

There seems to be a disconnect in the govs office on this issue.

PS: I developed the IA system for the Youth Authority which is in the same agancy as the CDC. I had a strong dislike for the IG's office. Saw it as unnecessary in our department. But with all the shenanigans going on at corrections it has been proven to be needed. WQhen you can't trust people then you have a growth of oversight. I believe a new director could EVENTUALLY prove that the Inspector General is not needed, but it's way too soon for that decision.

[NormsRevenge]