State Looks to Save Money in the Prison System

By Dan Gorenstein on Monday, February 2, 2004.

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A new report recommends what the New Hampshire Department of Corrections could do to lower the prison population and save the state money.

New Hampshire Public Radio?s Dan Gorenstein reports.

Across the country, state governments are looking at ways to reduce the cost of prisons.

A new report from the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies outlines steps the Department of Corrections could take to save the state money.

Former House Speaker and Public Policy Center board member Donna Syteck says the Department is struggling to fund basic elements, like education and training programs for inmates, and not hiring new employees.

She says this reports offers Correction officials a good roadmap.

19:15 when you have the data to demonstrate that better management of your population can increase leading a law abiding life on the outside and when it is so clear what needs to be done, and it isn?t being done, we just have to remind the policy makers, hey, this isn?t a new problem. Here is the data, the center is recommending some specific actions and you can prevent the Department from going over the falls.

The recommendations include reducing the number of prisoners behind bars for parole violations.

They also propose increasing the number of low-risk offenders sentenced to home confinement with an electronic monitoring device.

State officials estimate an inmate costs the state 26 thousand dollars a year.

Instead, the report?s authors suggest the state increase capacity in an alternative-sentencing program known as the Academy.

The Academy is for non-violent offenders with alcohol and drug problems.

It emphasizes counseling and treatment. The program runs about 6 thousand dollars.

The Public Policy Center?s Richard Minard.

Track 5
18:27 what we are talking about is a broad policy shift, and building on what the department has already created. Remember the Academy program is something that grew out of the Dept. working with judges, proved its worth, and could be expanded, and really all the center is saying, is doing what you do well, maximize the benefit of it, we believe that will save money in the short term, and certainly over the longer term.

Department of Corrections spokesperson Jeff Lyons says, the agency is receptive to the plans.

In fact, in years past, the agency has proposed similar ideas.

Track 3

3:00 we have attempted to build another half-way house, however the legislature removed the money...we did look to increase our academy program, however that was cut back by the budget discussions. It?s not like we aren?t trying to move in that direction. But times are such that we can?t move quickly in that direction.

Last summer, the legislature required Corrections to cut their budget by 3.4 million dollars over the biennium.

Lawmakers reasoned the Department could absorb the cuts, if they began to institute some of the ways to reduce the prison population.

But rather than increase the number of inmates in programs outside of prison, Spokesperson Lyons says the Department is eliminating current vacant positions.

Senator Dick Green who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, says they provided Corrections with the flexibility to spend 2005 money in 2004 to help bring about some of the suggested changes.

4:11 based on time frame when budget was passed, I think they could do some of this. I didn?t think they could do it over night...but the reality is you have to start down that process of figuring out ways to keep track of prisoners and make sure the public is safe, and at the same time, make sure they are not all in the four walls of the prison. We can?t just keep building prisons and passing laws that keeps them three, b/c the cost is getting out of control.

Lyons says money is not the only problem in implementing the plans.

He says the making such dramatic changes to how prisons are run is going to take time.

The Department also is facing a request from Governor Benson that the agency cut an additional 15 million dollars from their budget over the next two years.

For NHPR News, I?m DG.