North Carolina Department of Correction News - March 1999

Department's Y2K preparations praised

A department work team investigating Year 2000 compliance problems heard praise and encouragement from the state’s top Y2K expert at a Feb. 5 meeting at the Randall Building.

Debra Clark-Jones told DOC managers that the department’s main computer application, the OPUS offender record system, has the department in great shape. Clark-Jones encouraged managers to continue their work investigating the impact of Y2K bugs in equipment that relies on embedded computer chips.

Rod Rabold of Central Engineering and David Mosley of the Division of Prisons said they have surveyed 39 prisons. They checked heating and air conditioning systems and compiled a list of equipment. They have begun to seek manufacturer assurances that the equipment will work properly after Jan. 1, 2000.

MIS Network Support looked at computers used at 21 of the surveyed prisons. Of 769 computers, they found five were Y2K non-compliant and will have to be replaced. Others were fixed.

Correction Enterprises began looking at their operations based on the impact on prisons. Andy Artola said they have surveyed 18 industries where they found 150 types of equipment. In 111, there were no computer chips. He said they have written manufacturers to inquire about Y2K compliance for 34 pieces, are checking on 10 others and found one at the sign plant with a problem. The vendor is fixing that problem.

Correction managers are continuing to look at other Y2K issues and plan to check electric and phone companies for assurances that there will be no interruption of service after Jan. 1, 2000. The Y2K work team will meet again March 5. u

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