Editorial: Thorough review of prison system

Gov. Bob Miller was right to order the state Prisons Department to investigate disturbing allegations of prison mismanagement, but prison officials need to make sure they don't try to kill the messenger as they complete the task.

David Kladney, a state hearing officer, reversed the demotion of Nevada Women's Prison Sgt. Mel Vande Brake. But it wasn't Kladney's decision about a personnel matter that got the attention of the Miller administration, it was his scathing indictment of the entire prison administration that created the furor. In his decision made public earlier this month, Kladney indicated there was a complete breakdown in the running of the state women's prison in Carson City during the 1990s and contended that the state Prisons Department still had management problems.

Prisons Director Bob Bayer is still investigating all the allegations, but last week he distributed a four-page preliminary answer listing mistakes he said he's found in Kladney's report. It's important that any mistakes Kladney made be pointed out, but there is a defensive tone to the initial response.

For instance, Bayer takes exception to the fact that Kladney made observations about the entire prison system, and didn't limit himself to discussing solely the appropriateness of a disciplinary action taken against an employee. "This decision goes far beyond that issue, becoming a rambling, unsupported indictment of the (prison) system and administration," according to Bayer.

Whether or not Kladney went beyond the scope of his jurisdiction isn't the issue now. The issue is whether or not the allegations are true and, if so, what can be done to prevent them from happening again. There is enough meat in Kladney's ruling that the Prisons Department should take it seriously.

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