* A senior officer allowed an unauthorized person to come into the prison. An officer reported the security breach. The senior officer received modest punishment. The officer who reported the violation was then transferred and told to ''get a thicker skin.''

* A Board of Pardons employee transferred to the Corrections Department for one month. During that time, the person received an $8,000 retirement bonus. The employee then returned to the previous position at the Board of Pardons.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. replaced the executive director of the Department of Corrections on Thursday in the wake of a blistering legislative audit identifying a pattern of favoritism.

Huntsman abruptly removed Scott Carver from the Cabinet post and named Tom Patterson, who is now the executive director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, as his replacement. Patterson inherits a department with an internal affairs unit in chaos, a large work force with low morale and entrenched executives from the old guard.

Huntsman's move comes less than two weeks before the start of the legislative session, where at least two committees were preparing to grill Carver over the audit's findings.

Carver was first hired by the department in 1987, working his way through the ranks. He has served as prison chief since August 2004.

The move startled Patterson, who had never discussed the job with the governor until it was offered to him Thursday. Huntsman had recently asked him to lead a team that would review the audit and make recommendations.

Patterson said earlier Thursday that the process would take a few weeks. But Huntsman switched course a few hours later, shifting jobs to remove Carver.

Huntsman appointed Carver to lead the sentencing commission, an obscure government post within the larger Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice (CCJJ).

Huntsman spokesman Mike Mower said the move places Carver in a policy position only, taking away managerial responsibility. He will advise Huntsman and lawmakers on the appropriate punishment for crimes.

The current sentencing commission director, Robert Yeates, will lead CCJJ.

"We recognize the need to make a culture change at the Department of Corrections," Mower said. "The audit highlighted some of the reasons that a change is necessary."

Legislative auditors spent months examining the department after the Fraternal Order of Police's Corrections chapter accused administrators of widespread cronyism, nepotism and unfair practices.

"We are pleased the governor demonstrated leadership and has put in place, we think, a person who will come into the department and attempt to correct the problems that have been highlighted by the auditors," said Kelly Atkinson, executive director of the fraternal order, known as the FOP.

The audit focused on 10 cases of apparent favoritism or questionable management practices.

In one, administrators did not immediately fire a captain who tested positive for methamphetamine use, instead they placed her on paid administrative leave for seven months so she could earn her police retirement before being let go.

In another case, Ron Benson, head of the ethics and internal affairs unit, lied to a Highway Patrol officer during a traffic stop. He said he was speeding to a stabbing when he was really going to a shooting range.

Carver continuously brushed off the findings, which were released in mid-December, saying any accusation of favoritism was nothing but a perception problem pushed by a "subset" of disgruntled employees.

Carver had been in the middle of a series of meetings with Corrections employees where he criticized the audit and those who complained to investigators.

"The department took a couple of big black eyes," he said just a few hours before being replaced. "Undeservedly, I think."

Legislative Auditor General John Schaff complained Carver had taken the audit ''out of context'' and attempted to minimize the findings.

West Jordan Republican Sen. Chris Buttars, who formally requested the audit for Atkinson, called Carver's comments "ridiculous."

''I'm disgusted at his response,'' Buttars said. ''I've always thought the world of Scott, but I have to admit that I'm greatly concerned.''

Carver has complained about the actions of Atkinson and the fraternal order. Atkinson said Thursday his call for change was in no way personal.

''All the FOP has ever asked for was a recognition that this was a problem and for someone to step up and say, 'We are going to fix it,' '' Atkinson said. ''We think that is what the governor did by his actions today.''

Huntsman had declined to comment on the audit until revealing Wednesday that he had requested an internal review.

With Carver's sudden ouster, Patterson, a former prosecutor who has never worked in a prison, will lead a reform effort. Prior to leading CCJJ, he had worked as an attorney and administrative law judge in the Department of Workforce Services.

Patterson said Thursday he will emphasize openness and transparency as he attempts to ''make the staff feel like they can voice their concerns.''

He does not immediately plan widespread changes in the management staff.

''I will look at it as I go,'' he said.

Carver is the second official to lose his job because of the audit. Earlier this week, Carver demoted Benson for lying to the Highway Patrol officers.

Benson also was embroiled in a controversy over his police certification. The audit said a ''misleading'' memo written by a friend cleared the way for Benson to get rehired after retiring, even though his certification may have lapsed.

Carver had not decided where to move Benson before being transferred himself.

Patterson also inherits a training system in flux. The audit found that 107 Corrections officers had failed to get the appropriate training to maintain their police certification. As of Thursday, all but 11 had caught up. Carver said the remaining officers were on track to complete their training by Wednesday.

Legislative auditors will conduct another examination next year to make sure that concerns about training and favoritism have subsided.

Patterson said he welcomes the review.

mcanham@sltrib.com