MALVERN, AR - Arkansas prison and parole officials are asking for a total of $76 million dollars in additional funding each year for their budget. They say the money is needed to meet costs of a state law on monitoring sex offenders, build a new therapeutic center, add beds for women prisoners, and expand prisons.

The Department of Community Correction, which supervises parolees and probationers, requested $79.3 million dollars for the two years beginning July First, 2007. The request represents about a 47% increase over the agency's current general revenue funds.

Meanwhile, the Department of Corrections is seeking about a 16 percent increase in its budget over the biennium. That would bring its yearly budget total to $295 million dollars in general revenue. Department officials said the money is needed to expand prisons at Malvern and Newport and cover higher fuel, food, utility and medical costs.

The budgets won't be considered by the Legislature until next year, and state officials expect the figures will be pared down by then.