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Prison bosses' cheap rent: perk or fair practice?

 Higher-ups are paying as little as $150 a month for housing on prison grounds. Some say those officials shouldn't be getting such discounts.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 5, 2006

RAIFORD - As a regional director in Florida's prison system, Richard Dugger lives in a state-owned 4,498-square-foot home with a vineyard. His rent is $150 a month and he pays another $100 for utilities.

He's not alone - two other regional directors and several other high-ranking officials pay similar rent for housing on prison grounds that state law says is reserved for wardens, guards, medical personnel and other employees who must quickly respond in a riot, escape or other emergency.

It is a practice that is being criticized by some former prison administrators, who say there is no legitimate reason for the directors and officials to receive the discounted housing.

"They kicked the wardens out of the wardens' houses and put regional directors there," said Ron McAndrew, a former warden of Florida State Prison who is now a prison consultant. "A regional director has no purpose whatsoever during an emergency at the institutional level."

"They make enough to get their own abode," said Harry Singletary, corrections secretary from 1991 to 1999.

The administrators make between $93,000 and $99,000 annually.

The practice was authorized by former Corrections Secretary Michael Moore, who served from 1999 to 2003, and is supported by current Secretary James McDonough.

The department could not say exactly when the authorization occurred.

"Regional directors are directed by me to take charge of all correctional institutions, their staffs and their inmates within their region. They are the key links to my authority for meeting our public responsibilities. Their proximity to the point of action is key. I encourage them to live in staff housing and appreciate their constant readiness to lead," McDonough said in a statement.

Dugger, who owns homes in Tallahassee and Carrabelle, said although he only lives "in a corner" of his prison house, said it is important to stay near the 14 prisons he supervises.

They house about 24,300 inmates and employ 7,000 staff members in north-central Florida.

"It's hands-on management. I'm with a different warden on weekly basis," said Dugger, 63, who headed the Department of Corrections in the late 1980s.

The regional directors have homes that vary in style and size - all renting for the same $150 a month, although some do not pay for utilities.

Dugger's red brick home faces Union Correctional Institution and has a circular drive, barn and the vineyard.

Another home in Clermont, occupied by Gerald Adbul-Wasi, has 2,259 square feet, while Marta Villacorta, another director, has a staff home in Fort Lauderdale with 2,835 square feet.

The most opulent is a 6,887-square-foot lakeside home in Sneads in the Florida Panhandle, which is unoccupied.

New Regional Director Wendell Whitehurst said he does not plan to move in.

"The director's house is such a huge facility. I believe the house, which is located on a beautiful lake, has a greater potential and can be use for better purposes," Whitehurst said.

It hasn't been decided what those purposes will be.

The home has been empty since Allen Clark, who was fired as regional director, moved out last fall.

The home, built in 1961, has six bedrooms, four bathrooms, a large living room and a screened-in balcony. It's legendary for some wild parties held there. It is insured for $231,000.

State Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee, said he thinks prison housing should be considered a fringe benefit and was surprised by the rents paid not only by the administrators but also by all 1,400 prison employees who have staff housing.

Rents range from $50 to about $150 a month.

"There's something wrong with that kind of price," Wise said. "Maybe we need to look at it."

Corrections spokesman Robby Cunningham said staff housing "is not considered a fringe benefit, since, as a condition of their living there, those in staff housing are required to be first responders in any and all emergency situations, to ensure public safety."

State Rep. Gus Barreiro, R-Miami, chairman of the Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee, said staff housing is needed because many state prisons are in rural areas.

"If you put prisons in those areas, you better provide housing or you won't have workers," he said, adding that prison housing can be used to help recruit employees.

A look at those living in Florida prison staff housing:

•  About 1,400 Department of Corrections employees live in staff housing insured for about $40 million.

•  A database obtained by the Associated Press from the DOC shows 378 employees and their families live in DOC houses, paying about $150 a month. The average salary of employees living in DOC-owned homes is $53,583 a year.

•  Another 305 employees rented rooms from the DOC for $100 a month. The average salary of those living in rooms was $35,936.

• Trailer pads were rented by 731 more employees for $50 a month. Their average salaries were $36,095.

[Last modified June 5, 2006, 05:44:41]