By Tony McVeigh
Danville, KY – After last year's riot at Northpoint Training Center near Danville, Kentucky lawmakers sought a state audit of prison food services provided by a private vendor. Food was cited as a contributing factor to the riot, but not the main factor. State Auditor Crit Luallen has now completed her investigation.
"What the state has responsibility for here is actually overseeing a contract with a private vendor in a way that is comprehensive and aggressive and detailed in its constant monitoring of the contract. We're spending 12-million dollars a year and we want to make sure the taxpayers are getting their money's worth for that 12-million dollars."
The audit found numerous instances of billing errors, overpayments and problems with food quantity and quality. But the report does not recommend termination of the contract with ARAMARK food services. The Corrections Department has already adopted many of the 30 audit recommendations for strengthening oversight of the contract.