Nevada prisons chief shifts focus to inmate rehabilitation

CARSON CITY — Nevada’s new prison boss announced a pronounced shift in the agency’s mission Tuesday, emphasizing the need to focus on inmate rehabilitation as a means toward enhancing public safety.

The mission and vision statements released by James Dzurenda, director of the Nevada Department of Corrections, is a departure from the beleaguered agency’s previous statements that addressed only safety concerns.

“Re-entry begins the moment an inmate arrives at our door,” Dzurenda said in a statement. “We have an obligation to provide programs and services that will give inmates the opportunity to improve while in custody.

“Our goal to lessen victimization in our communities hinges on inmates changing their behavior.”

Dzurenda said the new mission and vision statements are “just the beginning” of a needed cultural shift at the Corrections Department.

“We are no longer just a prison system and need to recognize the importance of our role in public safety,” he said. “The majority of inmates will be released into the communities across the state and with the appropriate resources we can enable them to be successful.”

Gov. Brian Sandoval issued a statement supporting the agency’s direction.

“The safety and security of our communities has always been a priority in the overall mission of our criminal justice system,” Sandoval said in an email through a spokeswoman.

“This is the first step in a cultural shift with the Department of Corrections aimed at reducing recidivism rates, which will decrease both the likelihood of repeat offenders and potential victimization,” the governor said.

State Sen. Tick Segerblom, a liberal Democrat from Las Vegas, also praised the director’s moves.

“Everyone from the Koch brothers to Bernie Sanders agrees we need to reform the prison system to focus on rehabilitation,” Segerblom said. “I look forward to working with Director Dzurenda.”

John Witherow, president of Nevada Cure, an inmate advocacy group, expressed cautious optimism.

“Assuming Director Dzurenda means what he says and initiates appropriate procedures to implement real rehabilitative programs, Nevada Cure applauds (his) position and pledges to work with him to implement rehabilitative procedures and bring our people back into our communities.”

Dzurenda, who held prison administration jobs in Connecticut and New York City, was hired by Sandoval in April after a string of shootings at Nevada prisons.

Former Director Greg Cox resigned in September at Sandoval’s request when he failed to produce a timely report on the agency’s use of force. The report’s tardiness capped a series of high-profile events, including the fatal shooting of one inmate and wounding of another by a correctional officer trainee at High Desert State Prison north of Las Vegas in November 2014.

That incident was kept under wraps by the department for four months and wasn’t revealed until the Clark County coroner issued a report listing the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds and labeling it a homicide.

Sandoval, in announcing Cox’s departure, said he wanted new direction at the Corrections Department and called for more accountability and responsiveness. The agency is responsible for nearly 13,500 inmates with felony convictions in 18 facilities statewide.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3821. Find @SandraChereb on Twitter.