SCDC Interview with Josh Gelinas

Interview on SC Department of Corrections Spokesperson, Josh Gelinas

Introduction: Josh Gelinas, a former news reporter in Aiken County is currently the public spokesperson for the SC Department of Corrections. I have spoken with him many times over the years when he had questions about local politics. He recently contacted me, and when I learned of his new position, I asked if I could ask him a few questions about the SCDC and post his answers for this class. Here are the questions and his responses.

If you would like an extra credit blog grade (to make up for a missed one or a low one), post a comment to what he has said – to get the S+ I know you would like to have, you must show that you have thought about his answers in your comment!!


Question 1. In looking at the statistics on the prison system, one could not help being concerned about rates of recidivism – the 5 year rate was about 35%, and the rates seemed to be growing if we look over the past several years as shown in the chart. If you had more resources, what would you like to do to try and reduce that rate?

South Carolina’s recidivism rates hover between 33 and 36 percent, and they’re among the lower rates in the country. Prison is not just punishment. Indeed, because 80 to 90 percent of those incarcerated will one day go free, the environment is geared to rehabilitate the individual and prepare them to become productive citizens upon re-entering society. Without a doubt, to most directly reduce the rate at which people return to prison, at least some new money would be spent on educational and vocational training. In fact, efforts are under way now to expand vocational opportunities to all of the state’s 29 prisons.


Question 2. One of the problems faced by the SCDC is turnover among staff (reported in the chapter we read as around 30% a year among guards). Have you been able to address that problem and what would you like to do to address it? The reading said the average salary was about $25,000.

The average salary for a correctional officer is, indeed, about $25,000. And that is an increased wage. With what little money he’s had to boost salaries for security staff, SCDC Director Jon Ozmint has tried to fatten starting salaries for entry-level staffers. It appears to be lowering turnover numbers, but it remains early in the process. The agency asked for another $640,000 to provide bonuses but it was axed from the budget.



Question 3. Another statistic of concern was attacks within the prisons, which are between 4 and 5% of all inmates each year – the rate was up in 2006. What are you doing to try and reduce rates of violence, both inmate on staff and inmate on inmate?

The increase was only slight and SCDC’s assault rate on officers remains one of the lowest in the country, despite having one of the highest inmate-to-officer ratios. Remarkably, assault rates for the most part have been steady or dropped in recent years. When forced to work with less, the system became more efficient and more disciplined.


Question 4. In looking at reasons for being in prison, the one thing that jumps out is the percentage that are in prison for non-violent offenses. Use of illegal drugs is more than 20% and that is the largest group. We certainly realize that the SCDC has to take in what the courts send using the laws passed by policy-makers and that policy-makers never lose votes for being “tough on crime.” Do you know of alternative sentencing or other measures that have been successful in reducing prison populations in other states?

Mandatory sentences and “truth in sentencing” that requires convicted criminals to serve 85 percent of their crimes is keeping inmates incarcerated longer than before. One alternative at work in South Carolina is called SHOCK, a rigorous 3-month program for some first time offenders. It’s essentially a bootcamp followed by release and a closely monitored probation period over two years.


Question 5. Figures from the chapter the students read show that we send more black males into prisons than we graduate from four year colleges in South Carolina – and we spend more state money on each prisoner than we spend on each college student each year. Are there any programs in the prisons that are aimed specifically at reducing recidivism rates among blacks so that we can reverse these figures? Again, we know that you do not choose who comes into prisons – policy makers and law officials do that.

That I’m aware of, there are no rehabilitative programs geared to a specific race.

Question 6. This is one that I know students would want to ask – why do we have to spend so much per prisoner on prisons? The per prisoner cost today is about $15,000, if I recall the numbers, and this was down after massive budget cuts a few years ago, and is just now getting back to what it was back around the year 2000. But to students I know any of these figures would seem high. I typically hear comments about how good life must be in prisons if we spend all this money.

A big contributor to the cost-per-inmate figure is healthcare. Incarcerated criminals are the only individuals in this country who are Constitutionally guaranteed medical care, including care for HIV, hepatitis C, cancer and other costly ailments. There are other obvious costs, such as food and clothing. Consider the infrastructure and manpower needed to house and secure 24,000 inmates and the high cost becomes more than fathomable. Think about it: there are 29 prisons in South Carolina that require regular maintenance, in addition to utility costs. Then factor the salaries, benefits and associated costs for the 5,700 employees in the agency, the state’s largest.

There’s an important premise that should be considered when analyzing the S.C. Department of Corrections: It is the only state prison system that receives less money today than it did in 1999. That is true yet again this fiscal year, which started July 1 (2007).
The reasons for that are fertile for thorough and probing debate. But the impact of this under-funding is tangible and can be seen across the entire system.

Criminal Justice – Question 10

EVERYONE answer this question. Pick ONE issue or controversy in the last major section of the chapter, describe it and take a position on it as to what should be done. Make sure you give your reasons for your position so that it is based on something more than just personal preferences!

Criminal Justice – Question 9

Question for DeQuawn S and Erica W. What are the differences between probation and parole, and how are probation and parole administered in South Carolina? (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 8

Question for Randy L. Several parts to this question, but all are short. A) What are the various kinds of state prisons? B) Who is most likely to be imprisoned in them? C) How much does the state pay to imprison someone? D) How does South Carolina compare to other states on incarceration? E) What is the greatest problem faced by sate prisons?

Criminal Justice – Question 7

Question for Warren K and Sarah L. Describe the various kinds of local detention facilities, what determines whom they house, and how have their operations been affected by federal intervention? (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 6

Question for Julie Kate K. How does South Carolina provide defense counsel for the indigent, and what problems are associated with how this is done? (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)

Criminal Justice – Question 5

Question for CoShendra J. Describe the office of solicitor in South Carolina in terms of its structure, selection, duties, and the pressures that exist in the office. (Write separate paragraphs on each point with an extra line separating the paragraphs!)