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| Calif. prison system wins higher budget |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 08/02/2004 |
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Spending for the nation's largest prison system will rise slightly with California's new budget plan, up approximately $349 million as the inmate population crests in the coming year before beginning slight expected declines. The new budget provides $5.6 billion in state funds for 32 state prisons and 37 camps housing approximately 162,000 inmates. More than $240 million in cuts kept the budget figure from rising higher. The new budget fuels a prison system in turmoil after a year of investigations, scandals and continued cost overruns. It includes nearly $5 million to expand the Office of the Inspector General and create an Office of Independent Review to oversee investigations. Another nearly $2 million will go to improve the department's internal employee disciplinary process. It also designates new employees to handle victims' services, research, policy and planning, and labor issues. Another $99.5 million will go to pay for substitutes for employees who are sick, on vacation, leave or in training, instead of paying extra for other employees to work overtime. A major report commissioned by Schwarzenegger called the system - once a model nationally - "dysfunctional" - and suggested scrapping the agency that oversees it, curbing power of wardens and overcoming a code of silence that protects abusive officers. Lawmakers, on the heels of funding the system, now plan hearings on reforming it. |
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