Texas State Audit Shows MTC Complied with Contractual Obligations
TEXAS (PRWEB) June 19, 2023 -- Following a comprehensive audit, the Texas State Auditor’s Office (TSAO) has concluded the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) “effectively monitored Management & Training Corporation (MTC) to ensure pre-release services were provided in accordance with contract requirements” at five prison facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
On November 22, 2022, The Texas Tribune published an article citing a complaint by the activist group LatinoJustice, which accused MTC of defrauding the State of Texas.
After an audit by TSAO, the statements cited in the story have been proven to be untrue. The audit clearly states TDCJ “approved of MTC’s use of an alternative, self-study method…to ensure offenders continued to receive treatment during the COVID pandemic.”
“We’re grateful to the Texas State Auditor’s Office for their investigation,” said MTC President Dan Marquardt. “Integrity is one of MTC’s core values, and we strive every day to ensure we’re providing quality services to our customers and to the people we serve.”
The COVID-19 pandemic proved challenging for individuals and organizations across the world – including all prison operators and prison residents. MTC worked with TDCJ to find new ways to provide programming to residents, as in-person learning was not feasible. TSAO found MTC was authorized by TDCJ to use “an alternative method that provided 2 hours of counselor-led treatment and 18 hours of self-study assignments (which did not require a counselor to be present)” and that residents “completed workbook assignments that were reviewed by a counselor” to incorporate a counselor’s instruction while in distance learning. According to the report, “this self-study method had been used in other circumstances, such as other contagious viruses, holidays, and counselor trainings.”
MTC continued to work with TDCJ throughout the pandemic to ensure policies were being followed. TSAO’s report further states, “The Department of Criminal Justice (Department) appropriately approved and documented changes to the delivery of treatment services by Management & Training Corporation (MTC)” and “that MTC provided corrective action for any noncompliance identified.”
The five facilities audited by TSAO included the Larry Gist State Jail (Beaumont, TX), Ernestine Glossbrenner Unit (San Diego, TX), Ellen Halbert Unit (Burnet, TX), J.W. Hamilton Unit (Bryan, TX), and the Thomas R. Havins Unit (Brownwood, TX).
For more questions, please contact MTC’s Director of Communications Emily Lawhead at [email protected]
Emily Lawhead, Management & Training Corporation, https://www.mtctrains.com/, 1 801-693-2691, [email protected]
Share this article