At a news conference attended by about 25 officers, Dennis Mallory, chief of staff of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employes Union Local 4041, said the union is asking for a grand jury investigation into Skolnik's actions as director.

Many of the concerns revolve around the state budget shortfall and the need for cuts at the department in the upcoming budget.

They include inadequate staffing levels being maintained at some of the institutions resulting in excessive overtime and the push to close the Nevada State Prison in the capital that would result in the layoff of more than 100 officers, he said.

But the union is also claiming that correctional officers who are members of the union have been retaliated against by agency management as a result of standing up to bad policies, unfair investigations and for speaking out about matters of public concern.

"After speaking with several of our members, it has become clear to me that we have no choice but to ask Director Skolnik to resign his post with NDOC," Mallory said.

Skolnik was given a vote of confidence by Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Gibbons spokesman Ben Kieckhefer said the governor has "full faith in Howard Skolnik and his ability to effectively manage the Nevada Department of Corrections."

"I know he focuses on the safety of correctional officers with every decision he makes in dealing with the state budget crisis," Kieckhefer said. "The governor has no intention of asking Howard to resign."

Skolnik said he does listen to correctional officers and their concerns, but that he does not always agree with their views on what should be done. He acknowledged that he is maintaining vacancies in the department because of the requirement from Gibbons to cut the agency budget by 14 percent for the next two years.

This will lessen the need for layoffs if the Legislature concurs with a proposal to close the antiquated Nevada State Prison, Skolnik said.

Members of the Board of Prison Commissioners also voiced concerns about budget reductions and their effect on staff and inmate safety at its meeting to review the agency's budget cutting proposals.

The correctional officers and their union officials voiced their same concerns to the panel, which includes Gibbons, Secretary of State Ross Miller and Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto. Gibbons was in Washington, D.C., and did not participate.

"There are clearly public safety concerns and I don't think it's an issue the public is generally aware of," Miller said. "We are going to need to see the director step up and assume a strong role in resolving some of these issues."

Masto questioned Skolnik about how far the agency can go in making cuts, given the staffing shortages and other budget concerns that already exist in the department.

"At some point in time there is a breaking point," she said.

Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty, reporting to the board on the findings of a panel looking at reforms to the operation of the department and the criminal justice system, told the commission that the 14 percent budget cut is coming on top of funding levels that are already inadequate.

Problems with excessive overtime costs, the medical care provided to inmates and a host of other problems that exist now in the prison system will only be exacerbated by further cuts, he said.

Masto asked Skolnik at what point would he buck Gibbons and sound the alarm that further cuts would endanger inmates and staff.

Skolnik said he could not cut beyond the 14 percent sought by Gibbons for the 2009-11 budget.

"I believe we can absorb the 14 percent and maintain a safe and secure environment," he said. "I do not believe we can do much beyond that."

Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley with more information at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900.