Orrections Round

Official Newsletter of the ROUND CORRECTIONS Virginia Department of Corrections March 2015 Editor-in-Chief Lisa E. Kinney Editor Win Sisson Director’s Message General Assembly Approves Salary Increases The 2015 General Assembly session has just wrapped up in Richmond. It was a short session, starting Jan. 14 and ending Feb. 28. During the 2015 session of the Virginia General Assembly, which wrapped up on February 28, legislators approved an across the board two percent pay raise for state employees and an additional Our legislators approved a two percent raise for state employees effective in August, one-time $1,000 boost for correctional officers. and they approved an additional salary increase for correctional officers. COs will receive a $1,000 raise in addition to the two percent that all state employees will receive. The state employees’ two percent raise comes with a compression raise of $65 per year of con- On top of that, certain high turnover positions – including registered nurses – will tinuous service for employees with five to 30 years of service. The raise and compression pay are receive an additional two percent raise. based on salary and years of service as of August 10, 2015, and go into effect that day. The bonus We worked hard to ensure that our officers were recognized by the General Assem- applies for correctional officers and correctional officers senior. There is an additional two percent bly. For four years, my team and I have been addressing the issue of low pay with raise for high turnover positions, including registered nurses, registered nurse supervisors, dental the Secretary of Public Safety’s office, the Governor’s office, and other elected officials. My team and I advocated in favor of salary increases before and during the READ MORE session by speaking before the Senate Finance Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, the Employee Compensation Review Working Group, a Joint Resolution In the Line of Duty: Dennis Toombs Subcommittee, the Senate Resolution 34 Committee, and the Public Safety Senate Finance and House Appropriations staff analysts. This was a critical issue and a top priority for me throughout the The Virginia Department of Corrections is grieving the passing of Dennis Ray session. I am incredibly pleased that the urgent need for an increase in CO pay was recognized. Toombs II, 33, Institutional Chauffeur. The Department had four bills in front of our elected officials this session, two of which passed. The two bills that Mr. Toombs was fatally injured February 14 in a single-vehicle accident returning passed involved offender transportation and victim notification. Senate Bill 1258 authorizes staff of the Department to the Stafford Diversion Center after picking up nine offenders from their com- to transport offenders across state lines and clarifies that we retain authority over such offenders during transport. Senate Bill 1311 simply codifies what we were already doing in terms of victim notification of offender transfers. munity job placement. He left his wife, his young daughter, his mother and his The bill requires us to give notice to registered victims as soon as practicable following the transfer of an offender. sister to cherish his memory. The two bills that didn’t pass involved the compounding of lethal injection drugs and VCIN. The first would have “The Department greatly appreciates the service and efforts of Mr. Toombs, and allowed the Department to obtain lethal injection drugs from compounding pharmacies, and the second would have allowed the Department to enter gang information into VCIN at any time before the offender is released from incar- READ MORE ceration (rather than every year as we are doing currently). Urban Institute Completes Third Employee Survey Some of you were probably aware of the staffing study being conducted last year. That staffing study committee has The Virginia Department of Corrections has undergone a major cultural shift in recent years, been approved to study staffing levels and employment conditions at the Department for an additional year. transforming into a research-based organization aggressively focused on offenders’ successful re- After state budget woes forced the closure of four VADOC facilities and the elimination of 641 positions, the effect entry back into their communities. Results are now in showing the success of efforts to combat on the Department going forward is a loss of $32 million on an annualized basis. recidivism and increase public safety through a new environment at the VADOC. There are still many misperceptions about the Agency at the General Assembly, and my team and I will continue to In 2010, the VADOC began thoroughly examining its security measures, programs, and human work to clear those up and to make sure our elected officials know about the good work happening in this Depart- resources, and their combined effectiveness in reducing recidivism. Today, Virginia has the second ment every day. lowest recidivism rate in the country. Thank you to everyone who worked hard to represent the Department at the General Assembly this year, and to all READ MORE of you who are ambassadors for this Agency every day, ensuring lasting public safety in the Commonwealth. TO SEE THE DIRECTOR’S VIDEO MESSAGE, CLICK HERE. Harold Clarke ROUND CORRECTIONS General Assembly Approves Raises, $1,000 Boost for Correctional Officers During the 2015 session of the Virginia Gen- These changes await the final approval of eral Assembly, which wrapped up on Feb- Governor Terry McAuliffe. Subject Inmate Transportation (Bill: SB1258) ruary 28, legislators approved an across the board two percent pay raise for state employ- Legislators approved an offender transporta- Summary: Authorizes corrections personnel of other states and the United States to retain jurisdiction over any ees and an additional one-time $1,000 boost tion bill that allows corrections staff to trans- offender they transport within the Commonwealth. The bill also authorizes staff of the Department for correctional officers. port inmates across state lines, which is impor- of Corrections to transport prisoners across state lines and clarifies that they retain authority over such tant in cases of medical emergency. prisoners during such transport. In addition, the bill authorizes the Director of the Department of Cor- The state employees’ two percent raise comes with a compression raise of $65 per year of Legislators also approved Senate Bill 1311, rections to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states’ corrections agencies governing such trans- continuous service for employees with five to which simply codifies what we were already ports. 30 years of service. The raise and compres- doing in terms of victim notification of of- sion pay are based on salary and years of ser- fender transfers. The bill requires the sheriff, Status: Passed vice as of August 10, 2015, and go into effect superintendent, or Department of Corrections that day and the first increase will be seen in to give notice to registered victims as soon as the September 1 paycheck. practicable following the transfer of an offender. Subject: Victim Notification (Bill: SB1311) The bonus applies for correctional officers and correctional officers senior. There is an Legislators denied a bill to allow the Depart- Summary: Requires the sheriff, superintendent, or Department of Corrections to give notice to any victim of the additional two percent raise for high turnover ment to obtain lethal injection drugs from offense for which an offender was incarcerated as soon as practicable following the transfer of such pris- positions, including registered nurses, regis- compounding pharmacies. Legislators also oner. Under current law, such notice must be given at least 15 days prior to the transfer. tered nurse supervisors, dental assistants, and declined to pass a bill that would have allowed probation officer assistants. the Department to enter gang information Status: Passed into VCIN at any time before an offender is Salary increases are based on positive employ- released from incarceration (rather than every ee evaluations and no downward revisions year as we are doing currently). in the state’s general fund revenue estimate. Subject: Compounding of drugs for use in executions (Bill: SB1393) Summary: Empowers the Director of the Department of Corrections to make and enter into contracts with a pharmacy or outsourcing facility to compound the drugs necessary to carry out execution by lethal injection. The bill provides that information relating to the identity of the persons or entities compounding such drugs, the identities of persons or entities engaged to manufacture or supply the materials used to compound the drug products, and the name of the materials or components used to compound drug products for use in an execution are kept confidential and exempt from the Freedom of Information Act.. Status: Did not pass Subject: Criminal gang files (Bill: SB1152) Summary: Allows the Department of Corrections to enter information into VCIN on an offender who is incarcerated for more than one year at any time before the offender is released from incarceration. Current law requires such entry to be made “as soon as practicable” after determining that the person is a member of an organized criminal gang and once a year thereafter. Status: Did not pass 2 HOME ROUND CORRECTIONS In the Line of Duty: Dennis Toombs The Virginia Department of Corrections He brought much happiness to others in is grieving the passing of Dennis Ray his life. Mr. Toombs was an avid Wash- Toombs II, 33, Institutional Chauffeur. ington Redskins fan who engaged in lively sports conversations, especially with Dal- Mr. Toombs was fatally injured February las Cowboy fans. 14 in a single-vehicle accident returning to the Stafford Diversion Center after picking Stafford Diversion Superintendent James up nine offenders from their community White stated Mr. Toombs was a valued job placement. He left his wife, his young employee who will be missed by all.

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