FDOC James McDonough sheds light on probes

The interim chief of the state's Department of Corrections confirmed Thursday what had been presumed for some time: A large-scale state and federal investigation into the state's largest agency is focusing on contracts with private vendors providing services in prisons.

James McDonough, appointed interim secretary of the agency last month, also told the Senate Justice Appropriations Committee Thursday that promotions of friends and family in the agency was a serious concern and that he expected to make personnel changes related to nepotism and cronyism soon.

Gov. Jeb Bush tapped McDonough to replace James V. Crosby last month. Bush said Crosby's removal was due to state and federal investigations, but didn't cite specifics.

The investigations' scope has included illegal use of state property and inmate labor, brawls associated with softball tournaments, steroids distribution and use among DOC employees and the hiring of employees solely to play softball.

Sen. Rod Smith, D-Alachua, told McDonough during the committee's hearing that lawmakers were fearful of allocating funds in the next few weeks given rumors of problems with contracts the agency has with several private companies.

McDonough said he would share the information with lawmakers as soon as possible, adding that he too was troubled by the uncertainty.

"I know what I know," McDonough said. "The hell of it is, I don't know what I don't know. There is some problems with contracts. That does not mean there are problems with all contracts."

McDonough also said that the promotion of friends and families within the department was a problem that he would correct soon. He said there were more than 100 examples of questionable hirings and promotions that had come to his attention.

"It appears to me that the protocol in the department (regarding nepotism and cronyism) have been disregarded in recent years," he said. "I need to fix that immediately and I shall."

He quickly added that in the rural areas where prisons are the prominent employer, he appreciated the "family heritage" of generations working for the agency, but said promotions and hirings should always be based on merit.

Taking a wider view, McDonough said a few employees in powerful positions had created an unhealthy atmosphere for the bulk of the agency's workers who want to do good work the proper way.

"I'm an optimist on human nature. I think most of the people most of the time want to do good," McDonough said. "I think in the Department of Corrections, that is the rule."

But McDonough said a "cultural battle" waged by a few rogue employees has hurt the department.

"If you (as an employee) start to exist in a system in places where the other side is advanced, where the definition of prison culture is to be bigger, better, badder, meaner than the prisoners, that (behavior) is where the reward seems to be and that can affect lots of those good people," McDonough said.

He also said his review of employee clubs is continuing. He added that he had found examples of sexual harassment in the agency and was acting to fix that problem, but he also said he felt the agency's defense in a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment was sound and would continue.

Smith, whose North Florida district is home to many of the state's prisons, said he felt confident McDonough could turn the agency around.

"I know these are difficult times," Smith said. "(DOC employees) are mostly career people doing a thankless job that not everybody understands how tough it is to do. And they are really down right now. They are as down as I've seen them in terms of just worry about their future."