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January 13, 2009
UT: DOC cuts drug programs and parole violator center not cages
Public safety cuts go deep, affect police and prisons
Slashing spending ยป Trooper, prison guard jobs on the block
By Robert Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 01/12/2009 08:56:24 PM MST
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11438864
The state's belt-tightening could mean 42 fewer highway patrol
troopers on the streets, elimination of 283 positions in the
state court system and reduction of 22 mid-level officers in
the state prison system.
"I think we're all feeling a real lot of pain this year," said
Senate President Michael Waddoups. "It isn't like this is fun
for us. It's our constitutional duty, and I would just say the
more help we can get the better."
The recommended cuts Monday were a sort of first shot at
balancing the state budget, which is facing a gaping shortfall
over the current budget year and the next. The proposals will
be refined next week, so lawmakers can act soon after they
convene on Jan. 26.
The Department of Corrections would wipe out drug offender
treatment for about 1,400 offenders a year, would cancel a
contract for a 300-bed parole violator center, and further
delay the construction of a 192-bed addition to the Gunnison
prison.
The department would have to eliminate 22 middle management
staff positions. Corrections director Tom Patterson said that
could mean a greater safety risk for prison guards and fewer
opportunities for promotion as positions are phased out.
The juvenile justice system would see double-bunking of its
youth inmates and closure of four "receiving centers" which
provide short-term housing for youth as they enter the justice
system.
Public Safety Commissioner Scott Duncan said the recommended
cuts would mean 42 highway patrol troopers would be taken off
the roads. Additionally, the reductions would force grounding
of the department's Aero Bureau and selling off the four
aircraft -- two helicopters and two fixed-wing planes.
The aircraft have been used to lift equipment during the
Crandall Canyon mine collapse, help evacuate civilians during
wildfires and to assist in security during the Warren Jeffs
trial.
"Some of these were a shock to me today and to some other
people in our department," said Duncan, who said he was
concerned about the number of troopers shrinking at the same
time the number of people on the road continues to increase.
"We'll do everything we can," he said, and assured legislators
the department would keep the public safe.
And the state courts are facing the elimination of 283
positions and looking at some sweeping changes, including
potentially closing the courthouse in Bountiful and eliminating
all of the small claims filing in the state courts, pushing it
off to the local justice courts.
Posted by lois at January 13, 2009 08:51 AM