|
|
| Budget Cuts To End School at Virginia Prison |
| By Coalfield Progress |
| Published: 11/14/2002 |
|
Around the Commonwealth, the first round of budget cuts announced by Gov. Mark Warner are now being implemented, with more to come in December, state officials say. At Wallens Ridge State Prison, cutbacks impacted several areas, excluding the security function at the institution. Hardest hit was the prison's educational program, a service provided by an agency under contract to the Department of Corrections. 'The layoffs in the Department of Correctional Education were a last resort. They don't impact security. But they will impact operations because they will limit opportunities for inmates who might take advantage of the chance to improve themselves,' Warden Stan Young said. At the institution, until Dec. 10, there are five teachers, one assistant principal who supervises teachers at Wallens Ridge and Red Onion, one librarian, and one teacher's aide. On Dec. 10, two lose their jobs. The remaining displacements will be in June of next year, Young said. Budget cutbacks will also affect the psychology department - where there will be fewer visits, but the funding shortfall will not impact counseling or the services of psychologists, Young said. The DOC had the foresight to anticipate the impact of the budget situation and held vacancies open if they were not positions that would jeopardize security, Young said. 'We lost eight positions, but only two people, because six of the eight positions were vacancies that we did not fill.' Young said he is working through DOC in Richmond, trying to place in different positions the two employees who were laid off. 'We are working very hard to see that everyone has a job. Unfortunately, in the education department, that really can't be done. DCE employees work here, but are part of a different agency and on a different payroll.' There are other cuts that are being implemented, he said. 'We have set a goal to cut the cost of inmate meals by 10 cents per day. At present, meals average $2.43 per day,' Young said. In addition, there is a freeze on equipment purchases, he said, and there have been overall reductions in several budget categories. Hardest hit, though, was the educational program, which offered a service close to Young's heart. 'I had hoped something could be salvaged. But if the money's not there, it's not there. By no means am I critical of DOC, DCE or the governor's office. It's just like at home - if you don't have the money, you can't do what you want. 'You wish you could blink your eyes and the money would be there. This is not something I like, or anybody else likes. It will affect most the inmates that can be paroled, that need an education before they go back out on the street,' Young said. |
advertise
|
privacy policy
|
add URL
|
about us
|
terms/disclaimer
|
contact us
|
join our team
|
help
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think