Winds of change at prison?

It's a bit difficult to read the tea leaves in Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s decision to reassign — and effectively demote — Department of Corrections Executive Director Scott Carver.

In the aftermath of a scathing legislative audit that spotlighted an "underlying culture of unfairness and favoritism," Huntsman said he would review the situation and take necessary action.

On Thursday, the governor nominated Tom Patterson, executive director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, to succeed Carver. Carver has accepted a position as the new director for the Utah Sentencing Commission. Retired juvenile court Judge Robert Yeates, who has briefly headed the State Sentencing Commission, will become executive director of CCJJ. Patterson's and Yeates' appointments require approval by the Utah Senate.

Restoring confidence in the Utah Department of Corrections must be Huntsman's top priority. Although Carver's new position is a demotion, transferring a department head to another top position in state government sends a far different message than a thorough housecleaning of top administrators, as has been recommended by the Utah Fraternal Order of Police, which has a chapter for state corrections workers.

Patterson told the Deseret Morning News on Friday that he will review each prison administrator's performance and consider possible changes. He also plans to review the recommendations of the Fraternal Order of Police. Patterson will require broad latitude to institute what he has described as "cultural change."

It will be a huge undertaking. The Department of Corrections has been plagued with many of the same problems for decades through numerous administrations. Many issues swirl around nepotism, rehiring retired personnel, poor employee morale and even sexual harassment. There are also budgetary considerations. Corrections officers receive lesser pay than county jail officers, which makes it difficult to retain officers. Budget constraints also make it difficult to provide therapy and treatment programs and inmates. The department's issues run deeper than the director.

Carver has said the department suffers from perception problems perpetuated by a small group of disgruntled employees. That may well be true. But it is difficult to dismiss other issues documented by legislative auditors. For instance, one corrections official, who had been convicted of felony drug possession, remained on the department payroll for six months to allow him to retire. Equally disturbing were deficiencies in more than 100 corrections officers' law enforcement training that rendered them unqualified for law enforcement certification.

Because many of the problems at the prison are long-standing and systemic, there is no magic potion to cure all of the issues. But Patterson's early comments suggest he understands the scope of the challenge he has undertaken and his willingness to listen to all stakeholders.