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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Thomas Caltagirone |
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Caltagirone: Parole board, Corrections Department seek budget funding increases
HARRISBURG, Feb. 19 – State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said testimony delivered by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and Department of Corrections before the House Appropriations Committee raised concerns about their ability to pay for programs to address prison overcrowding, recidivism rates, safety and the out-of-state transfer of 2,000 Pennsylvania inmates.
Caltagirone said both the board and department are requesting funding increases in the 2010-11 state budget. The board is requesting an increase of 8.5 percent or $103 million; and the department, an increase of 8 percent or $136.8 million.
In its testimony, the Board of Probation and Parole presented research findings from criminal justice experts to demonstrate how the increases would be worthwhile. It said the funding would be used to help improve public safety by reintegrating offenders into the community on a gradual basis under greater parole supervision, rather than releasing them directly into the community with no support or supervision.
To address overcrowding, the Corrections Department said it has entered into agreements to transfer 1,000 prisoners each to the Muskegon Correctional Facility in Michigan and the Green Rock Correctional Center in Virginia. In addition, the Commonwealth plans to build four new prison facilities at a cost of $800 million, with an additional $50 million each needed for operating costs.
"I am concerned about the testimony I heard this week," Caltagirone said. "The idea of riots and overcrowding in our prisons is not acceptable or humane. Increased funding might help address the complex nature surrounding corrections, but we will need to work as a team to ensure those dollars are put to good use."