NCJ Number
90464
Date Published
1983
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The District of Columbia reduction-in-force (RIF) in corrections because of budget cutbacks would have had less of an adverse impact if more attention had been paid to employee needs.
Abstract
The 1981 RIF in the D.C. Department of Corrections (D.C. Corrections) triggered a temporary but significant adverse effect on prison operations. Institution security was threatened but adequately maintained, and some services to inmates were temporarily altered. Security staff shortages continued over a year because of unresolved problems between D.C. corrections and D.C. personnel. A number of outside factors created problems which complicated RIF decisions made by D.C. Corrections. Uncertainty of budget levels, plus the recent reorganization of the D.C. Office of Personnel and legal challenges to the RIF by inmates at the maximum-security facility and the employees union affected the implementation of the RIF. Employee morale understandably declined, but D.C. Corrections could have done more to lessen effects. It is recommended that the mayor require D.C. Corrections and the D.C. Office of Personnel to jointly develop a plan to deal with circumstances when the likelihood of a RIF arises. The plan should provide for improving communications with employees likely to be affected by the RIF and developing special programs to provide training, counseling, and assistance to help employees affected by budget cutbacks. The mayor should also require the Office of Personnel to consider whether plans for other departments within the D.C. Government should be developed.