bearcub,
The National Institute of Corrections' web site has some information on their Y2K program. Lots of links at this site.
nicic.org
Some of the findings by the Bureau of Prisons include:
The various categories of systems had varying degrees of Y2K non-compliance. The information provided is based on the BOP's experience, and is not intended as necessarily reflecting what other organizations may find.
A high percentage of certain systems were found to be in need of upgrade to be Y2K compliant.
Personal computers used to run control software were often found to be in need of upgrade.
The BOP's computerized maintenance scheduling software was DOS based. This necessitated upgrade to a Y2K compliant, Windows based program.
Telephone Branch Exchanges (PBXs) were all in need of either upgrade or replacement.
Software and firmware upgrades were required for numerous energy management systems and HVAC controls.
There were certain categories of systems found that presented few, if any, problems.
Elevator controls were found to be Y2K compliant.
Package scanning machines were found to be Y2K compliant.
Only a small percentage of fire alarm systems were in need of upgrade, and these were limited to software upgrades.
Radio system infrastructure were found to be Y2K compliant, however, software upgrades for subscriber units (mobiles and portables) were required.
Closed circuit television (CCTV) systems were found to be Y2K compliant.
Perimeter detection systems were found to be Y2K compliant.
I found the following information at:
dir.state.tx.us
National Y2K Information Line: 1-888-USA-4-Y2K
Frequently Asked Y2K Questions: Prison Safety
As presented by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice at the January 26, 1999 Texas Legislative Y2K Briefing.
Contact Information:
Bob Covington, Assistant Director/Data Services
P.O. Box 4016
Huntsville, Texas 77342-4016
Email: bob.covington@tdcj.state.tx.us
Telephone Number: (409) 437-1937
Q1 : What steps are you taking to ensure that the state and private prisons will operate correctly on January 1, 2000 and beyond?
TDCJ officially began its mainframe Y2K project in December 1997 when a contract was signed with IBM. However, prior to that date, a great deal of research was done relative to the development of a Y2K strategy that would effectively get the agency safely positioned for the Year 2000. Part of that strategy required all Y2K testing to be performed in-house at TDCJ rather than off-site to ensure more thorough testing and to reduce the overall cost of the Y2K effort. As a result, a totally compliant operating environment (all mainframe hardware and operating system software) was established early in 1998 within which to test the agency's mainframe information systems for Y2K compliancy. All mainframe code has been converted and testing will continue into the first quarter of 1999. In addition to internal audit and DIR guidance and oversight, an Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) vendor has been secured to review the agency's Y2K program and identify any remaining areas of exposure should there be any.
In addition to TDCJ's Institutional facilities and State Jail facilities, the private prisons also utilize the agency's mainframe information systems for day to day operations. At the time of intake, an inmate is processed through TDCJ where the base offender record is developed before the inmate is transferred to a private facility. In addition to mainframe operations, private prisons are included in all embedded systems planning by the agency.
Although the private prisons do not have micro-processing applications that would hinder their obligations to TDCJ, the private prisons have established their own Y2K corporate strategies to address their micro-processing applications.
Q2 : What is the current status of your organization? Will you be ready for Year 2000?
All of TDCJ's mission critical applications reside on the mainframe. The agency has a significant number of mainframe applications that were divided into six partitions (groups of data) for remediation purposes. All partitions have been evaluated and remediated. Parole, financial, purchasing, payroll, and personnel partitions have undergone extensive testing phases and are Y2K code compliant. The remaining partition, containing inmate data, is in the final testing phase and scheduled for completion by end of the first quarter 1999.
The TDCJ Y2K Embedded Systems Team has been in place since May 1998. An inventory of the embedded systems has been produced with criticality and remediation costs assigned to all items. Y2K contingency plans for the systems deemed critical to the agency are being developed with a deadline of March 1999.
The TDCJ Y2K Micro-Processing Team was created in May 1998. Micro-computer applications, micro-processor infrastructure and personal computer remediation efforts are in progress. Approximately 80% of the agency's personal computers have been remediated with the remaining micro effort scheduled for completion in June 1999.
Given the magnitude of this project, a Y2K Steering Committee was created to provide guidance to the Y2K teams and to increase awareness of the Y2K effort within the agency. The agency maintained an extremely aggressive schedule with very little slippage, which resulted in DIR removing the agency from an "AT RISK" standing to an "ON TARGET" status in November 1998.
Based on current project schedules and performance to date, TDCJ's Y2K Information Systems Project will be completed in time to avoid any disruption in operations from the century date transition problem.
Q3 : The Community Justice Assistance Division and the Pardons and Paroles Division are an integral part of the Department of Criminal Justice. What steps are being taken to ensure that these two divisions will continue to provide these services on January 1, 2000, and beyond?
The agency has information systems that span all divisions – Probation, Institutional, State Jail and Parole Divisions Also included in the agency Y2K effort is the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Because both the Community Justice Assistance Division (CJAD) and the Pardons and Paroles Division (PPD) are an integral part of TDCJ, any plans for the agency regarding Y2K have always included these two divisions. CJAD's probation tracking system, Community Supervision and Tracking System (CSTS), was developed three years ago as a Y2K compliant system. Paroles' Parole and Tracking System (PATS) was also developed Y2K compliant when it was redesigned approximately six years ago. From a mainframe perspective, both CJAD and PPD systems required less work because they were already Y2K compliant. However, the information systems in both divisions were run through the remediation and testing processes to ensure Y2K compliance. The CJAD and PPD have representatives on both of TDCJ's Y2K working groups that are dealing with micro-processing and embedded systems.
Q4 : Will the cell doors of the prison facilities "swing open" on January 1, 2000?
The TDCJ cell doors are designed to fail closed. TDCJ has manual key overrides for opening and closing the prison cell doors. The agency has already used contingency plans successfully as failures have occurred.
Q5 : Are time calculations for offenders going to be correct?
The programs that compute an offender's time have included the century since originally written in 1977. Release dates have previously extended into year 2000 and beyond. Programs are currently being tested in a Y2K environment to ensure no malfunctions.
Q6 : How long can TDCJ units continue to operate if there is a disruption due to utility outage?
The answer varies from unit to unit. Units have backup generators to carry on minimum activities in the event of a power outage. Contingency plans for other utility disruptions such as water, waste water, and natural gas are in place in order to allow units to continue during disruption of service. Due to concern of possible prolonged outage during the millenium change, TDCJ is revisiting contingency plans for utilities. Education of employees on implementation of these contingency plans is scheduled for Summer/Fall 1999.
Q7 : What is TDCJ doing to ensure unit medical equipment is Y2K compliant?
Medical equipment is the responsibility of the vendors providing medical services to TDCJ. The vendors have Y2K initiatives that include software remediation, replacement and testing of equipment at their respective medical departments. In addition, TDCJ is working with the medical vendors to ensure the overall medical care of the offenders is not in jeopardy due to a Y2K issue.
Q8 : Has the loss of mainframe personnel resources to private industry affected the Y2K conversion?
The loss of a number of key employees to the private sector has and will continue to impact not only the Y2K effort but other information technology (IT) initiatives as well. For several years, the agency has experienced the inability to hire qualified programming and data base individuals due to low salaries. The lack of new hires coupled with the recent recruitment of existing employees by other companies has created a shortage of programming staff within the agency. However, the agency has managed to remain on schedule by readjusting IT priorities and reallocating programming personnel.
I think that the prisons are the least of the government's concern. The prison population is already contained and controlled. I would be more concerned about the criminals who are not currently confined. This is the group that is most likely to take advantage of any Y2K disruptions.
The gangs that exist in many of our cities and the known terrorists are probably the ones that the government would be most interested in. These groups are usually well armed and very dangerous.
I am more concerned about the prison's ability to feed the prison population. If there is a breakdown in the food distribution system, prisoners might riot. But again, they will be contained within the prison and not a threat to the general population. Hence, I don't think that the government is overly concerned with the prison population – out of sight, out of mind.
Just my thoughts,
B.K. |
