PRESENT: Chair: Ryan. Members: Carsky, Kaplowitz, Mosiello, Swanson, and Wishnie. Staff: Dodds, Hoch, and Vita.

ALSO PRESENT: Rocco Pozzi, Commissioner of Corrections and Probation; Deputy Commissioner Robert L. Davis; Joseph Miranda, Chief of Operations.

Chairman Ryan called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m.

Mr. Ryan introduced Rocco Pozzi, Commissioner of Corrections and Probation. Commissioner Pozzi introduced Deputy Commissioner Robert Davis and Chief of Operations Joseph Miranda. He said they are up to the task of handling the day-to-day complexities of running Correction and he noted how helpful they were to him during his transition to the Correction position.

Mr. Ryan asked the Commissioner to discuss the Committee agenda items regarding prison privatization, parole reform, and jail visitation.

Commissioner Pozzi has been aware of privatization efforts around the State. Most news about privatization has not been positive. Trained and experienced county correction officers and staff are the best qualified to ensure security and the safety of all those in the correction facility.

On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Swanson, Item E was received and filed by a vote of 6-0.

Commissioner Pozzi said the Governor is putting together a task force to look at the parole system in the State.

He feels it would not be smart to abolish parole. We should identify crimes where parole would be unavailable. "Parole" as a necessary part of our criminal justice system should not be confused with the issues involving controlled supervision after incarceration.

Mr. Pozzi mentioned that most of the resources are put into the correction as opposed to probation and parole. Parole officers have tremendous case loads. Community supervision needs to be adequately funded in order to reduce the number of cases per officer to a manageable level. This year, the County has seen an increase of approximately 1,300 criminal supervised cases.

Mr. Wishnie asked about the difference in cost between supervised parole and incarceration. Commissioner Pozzi said the cost to incarcerate is about $30,000 to $40,000 per year as opposed to $10 to $15 per day for supervised parole.

Mr. Ryan said that County costs for Correction (the cost of housing prisoners) and Probation (local probation department service costs) should be reviewed. He is concerned with the differences between County cost and the level of State reimbursement for services provided by the County.

On the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Carsky, Item F is received and filed by a vote of 6-0.

Mr. Ryan asked Commissioner Pozzi if the complaint made by Connecticut State Representative Gonzales about the coarse and generally discourteous treatment she received when visiting the County jail was an isolated incident or are complaints of this nature common.

Regarding the Gonzales complaint, Mr. Pozzi said the Special Internal Unit conducted an investigation. Apparently, Ms. Gonzales arrived at the jail in a car driven by her son.

A Correction Officer asked the son to move his car from a fire zone and several expletives were exchanged. While in the visitor’s waiting room, an Officer made an issue of Ms. Gonzales’ provocative clothing. There was an exchange of comments and it seems that some in the visitors’ area were offended by the remarks and did not appreciate the improper attire. There was no further inquiry into this "he said-she said" incident involving an Officer and Gonzales.

Commissioner Pozzi stressed that the visiting area is under strict control. Correction Officers must be assertive in the visiting area and follow through on all procedures. As there is a problem with contraband and everyone is searched. Books, wallets, pocketbooks and other items are searched. Nothing unauthorized can pass through this area. The safety of staff and inmates is at stake.

On occasion, visitors complain about the length of time they must wait before the visit with the inmate actually begins. They also complain about the lack of shelter to protect visitors waiting on line outdoors from the elements. Deputy Commissioner Davis said the long wait on line is due to the length of time it takes to process the visitor and then to "bring down" the inmate to the visiting area. There are procedures that must be followed and there is no way to effectively change this part of the system.

In response to a question concerning correction officer discipline, Mr. Davis noted that post bidding makes it difficult to remove an officer from a post. The Administration must file charges with the union, schedule hearings and arbitrate the charges, which can take up to a year or more. There is no on-site reprimand of an officer, not even if the officer is out of uniform. You can’t discipline an officer at the post. Commissioner Pozzi said the disciplinary procedures are the result of collective bargaining.

Mr. Ryan mentioned a recent discussion he had had with COBA president, Joseph Spano, regarding the cancellation of training days and the recommendations of the Marbach Commission.

Mr. Spano had mentioned the importance of the training provided in a number of specialty areas and the need for more training.

Mr. Davis said the problem with training is attendance. Nearly 30 to 40 percent of the officers don’t show up on scheduled training days. Many call in sick. Some officers never attend. The Commissioner said he is willing to give the officers all the training they want if they start to show up for it. The Commissioner has no intention of chasing down an officer. If a training day is missed, a letter is put in the employee’s file.

Commissioner Pozzi stated that overtime is out of control in the department as well as the disability benefits paid under Sec. 207 C. Overtime – budgeted at $8 million – will likely go to $8.5 million. Thirty new correction officers have been added this year and 28 posts have been cut.

Commissioner Pozzi mentioned the need for a new contract with COBA and said that no talks were going on at this point. The union has refused to negotiate with the Administration on Sec. 207 C.

Mr. Kaplowitz would like this Committee to discuss with the County Attorney the options available to the Commissioner and the Board of Legislators along the lines of identifying and eliminating abuse of Sec. 207 C. He said the Board needs to send a strong message that we will not tolerate improper use of Sec. 207 C and we should seek to recover benefits wrongfully paid as well as costs and interest.

Mr. Ryan will arrange with the Department a tour of the jail facility for Committee members.

With no other business to discus, the meeting adjourned at 10:10 a.m. on the motion of Legislator Kaplowitz, seconded by Legislator Swanson.