|
|
| Ind. Prison Agency in Middle of Funding Fight |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 03/20/2003 |
|
Even in recent years, when the state was flush with cash, the Indiana Department of Correction had to plead for more money. Now, it might be on its knees. State lawmakers have grumbled about the rising costs of prisons for years, but Democrats who control the House have taken that frustration to new heights this legislative session. They say the DOC must get serious about cutting costs, and to drive home that point, they passed a budget bill that would deny funding increases the agency says it needs to lock up nearly 1,600 more felons over the next two years. The bill also would not pay for 800 new beds already in place. House Democrats say those beds should not be needed if the agency just releases more nonviolent inmates into cheaper community transition programs, something their plan encourages. Doing so would free up more money for schools. But Democratic Gov. Frank O'Bannon and some Republican lawmakers say the plan goes too far and too fast in its quest to shift taxpayer money elsewhere and reverse course on two decades of getting tougher on crime. Despite the state's lingering budget crunch, they say it is not only unrealistic, but could be dangerous. 'It's neither realistic or responsible,' said Sen. Richard Bray, R-Martinsville. 'I mean, this is not like Mayberry and you give a guy a key and he goes and locks himself up for two years, and then you let him unlock it and come back.' Under the House Democrat budget bill, the DOC would not get $26 million to open and staff 1,576 new beds at the Miami and New Castle state prisons to meet projected increases in adult male felons. It would also deny $12 million for prison space and oversight of 800 additional inmates the DOC took in over the past two years. To help offset the lack of funding, the plan would make more nonviolent inmates eligible for community transition programs sooner. It would also mandate that some -- unless judges refuse the transfers -- be sent to halfway houses and faith-based programs after serving some time in prison. House Speaker Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, acknowledged that such programs are lacking in some counties. But he said the plan would force the state and DOC to get more serious about starting or using such transition programs. He said the state has been dragging its feet. 'They won't do the programs. They won't do them,' Bauer said. 'And we are going to knock down that brick wall they are putting up every time the Legislature, in a bipartisan fashion, says, 'Rehabilitate these prisoners, focus on the nonviolents.' 'We don't want the violent to be released. We want the nonviolent to be rehabilitated at a far less cost than $20,000 to $30,000 per year.' O'Bannon proposed a two-year budget in January that would cut spending for most agencies and flatline basic funding for schools and universities. It included spending increases in only two areas -- Medicaid and prisons. The House Democrat plan would give schools a 2 percent funding increase, and universities would get some additional dollars as well. Medicaid and prisons would get virtually no new money, saving more than $300 million over the biennium. |
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