State Criticizes Security Lapses at Prison Project

Officials at a medium-security prison in the Sierra Nevada foothills have been chastised in a state report for security problems associated with the use of explosives on prison grounds.

Security at a Sierra Conservation Center construction site was “generally casual,” according to a draft report by the state inspector general’s office.

“The Sierra Conservation Center’s warden, fire chief, department heads and supervisors did not exercise their authority over the use and storage of dangerous materials and tools,” the report said.

Inmates working at the site apparently had access to a highly flammable welding compound, some of which disappeared, according to the report.

But Warden Matthew Kramer said his prison’s security has always been tight. “I think a lot of this has been blown out of proportion. Some irresponsible allegations have been made without the facts to back them up,” Kramer said Wednesday.

The state investigation stems from allegations of security breaches at a waste water treatment plant construction project on the prison grounds, just a couple hundred yards from the prison’s main security area. At its peak, the soon-to-be-completed $8.5-million project employed about 90 low-security inmate workers.