In the wake of a number of lawsuits alleging harassment and hostile working conditions in Missouri prisons, state Rep. Jim Hansen will lead a House of Representatives subcommittee on Corrections Workforce Environment and Conduct.
House Speaker Todd Richardson and Corrections Committee Chairman Paul Fitzwater on Wednesday announced Hansen's appointment to head the investigatory subcommittee they've created, to examine those harassment cases involving the state's Corrections department.
"The harassment that has been uncovered within the department is completely unacceptable and cannot be tolerated," Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, said in a news release. "Rep. Hansen and the members of his committee will work to obtain the answers we need, and to ensure the department does not allow a pervasive culture of harassment to exist in the future."
At the same time, state Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, said Wednesday, the Legislature's Joint Committee on the Justice System will continue the work it started last month on the Corrections department situation.
"(We have) jurisdiction over the criminal justice system, law enforcement oversight as well as implementation and maintenance of the new criminal code," Dixon explained. "Our plan is to begin those hearings as soon as we can."
Dixon expects the joint committee's work likely will have "some overlap" with the House subcommittee's hearings.
"The House committee is free to do whatever they would like to," Dixon said, "but we have a statutory directive.
"What we will get into in our committee is, what is the culture and the nature of operations within the department?"
Fitzwater said in the Wednesday news release: "There is a lot of unanswered questions many people have about the allegations that have been brought to our attention regarding the department and its work environment. It is my hope that a thorough investigation will not only give us answers, but also make the working conditions for these employees better."
Hansen, R-Frankford, added: "We have all been shocked and concerned by the stories and the lawsuits that have resulted from the environment that was allowed to exist within the department.
"It's clear significant changes need to be made to put an end to this culture, and to give our underpaid corrections employees a safe, professional work environment."
State Auditor Nicole Galloway said Dec. 9 her office will audit the state's Legal Expense Fund, which is the pool of money used to make payments in lawsuits against the state.
Dixon said the joint committee will look at that report, whenever it's finished.
"I think that's very helpful," he said. "And, as far as the state Legal Expense Fund, I know there are a number of sets of eyes on that. I'm told the attorney general's folks are also digging into that (because) there was quite a spike last year."
The attorney general's office reported last month the state had paid more than $3.5 million in damages in 2015 and 2016, settling a total of 25 employment discrimination cases - including 13 cases involving Corrections, for a total of $1,320,548.31 in damages.
Those numbers didn't include cases being appealed or where settlements still were being negotiated.
Dixon, who also heads the Senate's Judiciary Committee, currently chairs the joint committee, but that chairmanship will shift this year to House Judiciary Chairman Joe Don McGaugh, R-Carrollton.
Dixon said the committee has spent the last two years focused on implementing the new criminal code, which went into effect Jan. 1.
The House news release said Hansen already has been in talks with corrections employees regarding their workplace environment, and has scheduled a meeting with new department director, Anne Precythe.
Dixon said he also has visited with Precythe, "and I know that there are, already, systemic efforts and management changes that they're looking at."