Utah's outgoing prison medical director, criticized for his high pay, has accepted a similar position in Montana for $1,692 more than he earned here last year.
The package Dr. Robert Jones received from the Montana officials does not prohibit him from seeking outside employment - an arrangement that rankled Utah lawmakers.Jones, who last year made $148,308 as the state's highest-paid full-time employee, first came under scrutiny last year when it was reported that he held four part-time jobs while administering the $14 million prison medical clinic.
Jones' unique arrangement prompted an audit of the prison's medical services. But that hasn't caused problems with prison officials in Montana, where he expects to start in January.
"He's not prohibited from holding an outside job," said Montana Corrections spokesman Mike Cronin. "He will be a regular state employee, not on contract."
Montana hired Jones at a yearly salary of $150,000, Cronin said. Jones will evenly split his time between posts as the prison system medical director and lead clinician for Montana State Prison.
Jones will be working in a prison system with an inmate population that is only one-third the size of Utah's.
Meanwhile, Dale Schipaanboord, Utah's correctional clinical services administrator, promised Jones' successor will not have the same unique arrangement that caused criticism of state corrections.
"Jones has built a model medical facility, but his differences with the Legislature created a situation for him that professionally wore him out. He was no longer effective," Schipaanboord said. "Everyone here experienced vicariously what he was experiencing, and that was tough on morale."
Jones resigned in early October, citing unwanted publicity over his role in operating the clinic.
"I didn't feel anyone was ever going to give me a fair shake," said Jones, medical director since 1990. "I've done a good job in Utah, and I feel I can do the same in Montana."
Jones' financial arrangement was not the only issue being scrutinized. His policies also came under fire in March when a mentally ill inmate, Michael Valent, died after being shackled for 16 hours in a restraint chair.
The department grudgingly admitted that disturbed inmates were routinely restrained in the chair or on a stainless steel plank, the latter for weeks or months at a time in some cases.
The state also recently offered $107,000 to Valent's mother to settle her lawsuit. She declined the settlement.
Jones said he hopes the Valent case goes to trial.
"It's the only way the other side will be heard," he said. "We're not always in a position where we can freely discuss what happened. I wasn't even in town when that occurred. Most everyone makes the assumption it was my decision, so I'm the one that takes the heat."