Even with low funding, South Carolina’s prison system is well maintained. A recent audit of the state prison system might not vindicate the Department of Corrections entirely, as its director Jon Ozmint claims. But it once again indicates that the prison system is doing a good job under difficult circumstances. State lawmakers asked the Legislative Audit Commission last year to review the operation of the prison system after a number of accusations about mismanagement had surfaced. The report, issued earlier this month, was mostly positive for the Corrections Department, finding no serious problems regarding most of the accusations.

Criticism had included charges of favoritism in hiring, poor handling of escapes and a 2006 hostage situation in which a prison employee was raped, and gripes about the free home given Ozmint, a perk few other states provide. While auditors noted that Ozmint’s home should be sold, they said that won’t be done because the house is on prison property and near nine prisons. Selling it, said the report, would be difficult even in good economic times. ...

With the recent imposition of a 7 percent across-the-board budget cut for state agencies, the prison system is operating with a $36 million deficit. Prison facilities are in desperate need of maintenance, prison pay is low, and inmates work on prison farms to raise crops and livestock used to help reduce the cost of their meals.

The audit might have discovered some ways in which to improve or streamline the agency’s operation. Considering the lack of essential funding, however, perhaps residents should be thankful the prison system operates as well as it does.

The (Rock Hill) Herald