Otay Mesa Prison Plagued by Problems a Year After Opening, State Audit Finds

Construction of the state prison in San Diego was managed well and building costs were kept to a minimum, but several problems continue to plague the institution more than a year after it opened, according to a report released Wednesday by the state auditor general.

The Otay Mesa prison’s four gymnasiums remain unused because of security problems, a textile mill built for the Prison Industry Authority is empty and unused, and the prison kitchen was built with materials that have been easily damaged by inmates, the report said.

The 2,000-cell prison, known officially as the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, cost $158.3 million to build, or $79,175 per cell, according to the report.

The cost-per-bed for the San Diego prison was lower than that for five of the six state prisons opened since 1986.

Building Took 22 Months

Construction of the prison took 22 months, five months longer than was projected. But the report said the original 17-month projected time line was “overly optimistic.” No other prison completed in recent years has been built in fewer than 21 months.

But the report noted that the prison’s four gymnasiums have not been used because of security problems caused by open areas beneath the bleachers and above several rooms located on the sides of the buildings.

The textile mill has not been used because the Prison Industry Authority has not been able to finish the inside of the shell built for the mill during construction of the prison. After costs for equipping the mill rose to $5 million from an original estimate of $3 million, the authority decided to use inmate labor to finish the job, which is now expected to be completed by June, 1990.

The report also criticized the use of gypsum board on interior walls in the prison’s kitchens and dining areas. To repair holes caused by inmates and prevent further damage, the prison installed plywood and fiberglass paneling over part of the walls. But the auditors, on a tour of the institution, reported that the repairs were not sufficient to reduce damage above the paneling, where holes were still evident.

Increased Use of Concrete

Since construction of the San Diego prison, the report said, the Corrections Department has increased the use of concrete in kitchen and dining areas and eliminated gypsum wall materials.

The prison has also had difficulty with its cogeneration power plant, which was completed more than a year behind schedule because of bad welds, unsupported pipes and emission problems. Because of the delay, the prison had to purchase more expensive power from San Diego Gas & Electric.

The auditors also noted that the plant presented a security risk because it was not protected by a fence. Inmates could wander into the plant and “cause havoc to the whole prison,” the report said.

In their response to the report, Corrections Department officials disputed the auditors’ assessment of the security risk, saying that the cogeneration plant is not the prison’s primary power source and that there is also backup power for critical areas of the institution. But they agreed to consider providing additional security for the power plant.