The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

Such promises surprised some Democrats on the Judiciary Committee who fear Connecticut's prisons are already too crowded and can't handle additional prisoners. DOC Commissioner Theresa Lantz acknowledged there are currently about 300 portable beds set up on gym floors, but said there's still additional room available for more inmates.

"Is there ever a limit as to how many prisoners you can fit into a building?" asked Rep. Gerald Fox, D-Stamford, vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

"As of right now, we have enough space," said Lantz, who repeatedly referred to the number of prison beds as "fluid." Nearly 230 new beds for inmates are currently being added to the prison system.

The corrections department reported 18,892 inmates in Connecticut on July 1. But since the July 23 killings of a Cheshire mother and her two daughters, the population has jumped by approximately 430 prisoners, partly because of changes to parole standards. The two suspects in the killings were parolees.

While Lantz said she could not provide a maximum capacity for Connecticut's prisons, Rep. Michael Lawlor, D-East Haven, co-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said he believes they were originally designed to handle only 17,000 inmates. He has expressed fears that more crowding could prompt the federal courts to get involved and possibly order a mass release.

Lawmakers called Monday's emergency hearing after learning of Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell's order to suspend parole for all violent offenders until reforms of the parole process are completed. State officials have been scrutinizing the system in the wake of the Cheshire murders. Rell's order, however, came after news that another parolee was accused of committing a carjacking.

Lawlor said he supports Rell's decision, but called for the meeting so lawmakers could learn more about how she planned to handle the consequences of suspending parole. Rell declined the committee's invitation to speak.

Lantz said she does not know how long parole will be suspended for violent offenders. The legislature is working on a package of reforms in the wake of the Cheshire murders, but the governor's task force considering similar issues isn't expected to make recommendations until December.

In the meantime, Lantz said DOC is reviewing the records of low-level inmates to determine whether any should be recommended for halfway houses or other forms of community supervision in an effort to free prison beds for violent criminals. Also, she said prison officials are taking a look at inmates, with both violent and nonviolent records, on a case-by-case basis, to see if they might be suitable for another community release program.

A spokesman for the governor said last week that Rell expects enough space will be freed up in the prisons to handle any influx of serious offenders from the parole suspensions. Also, Rell said there are no plans to build more prisons.

Lantz tried to clarify statements she made during an earlier legislative hearing on Sept. 11, where she suggested lawmakers consider building a new 1,200-bed facility for inmates with mental health needs. Lantz again took some Democrats by surprise when she explained she was not requesting funds for such a facility or even saying one was needed. Lantz said she only mentioned it as something lawmakers might consider in the future.

"I never asked for those things," she said. "We are managing our medical and our mental health issues as we speak."

Copyright © 2007, The Associated Press