Prison officials seek $90 million more
Prison officials seek $90 million more

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By Josh Rabe
Published: September 21, 2007

The annual budget for Oklahoma's prison system surpassed the half-billion dollar mark Thursday in a budget request approved by the state Board of Corrections.

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Prison officials will ask legislators for a $90 million funding increase this year, bringing the agency's total budget to $572 million for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The agency also will seek a $34.2 million supplemental appropriation for the current fiscal year to pay private prisons to continue holding nearly 5,000 of the state's prisoners.

The agency initially expected it would still owe $40.3 million for private prison spending by year's end but made up some of that through temporary staff shortages and other savings, said Jim Harris, chief financial officer for the Corrections Department.

New prison will have to wait
Despite crowding, prison officials backed away from requesting a new state prison in this year's budget, instead opting to seek expansions.

Last year, the agency sought construction of a new prison as part of a proposed $380 million bond plan.

Some lawmakers and Gov. Brad Henry supported a proposed 2,500-bed expansion at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester but were reluctant to agree to any new prisons.

Ultimately, no major prison expansions were approved before the Legislature concluded.

"It has been quite a paradigm shift among this board,” said Robert Rainey, a board member. "Given the political realities, we are instead proposing add-ons.”

The current budget also calls for more than $300 million in bond debt to pay for expansion and renovation of existing prisons.

Board member Earnest Ware cast the sole dissenting vote against the budget after expressing disagreement with paying companies more for the same services provided by state-owned prisons.


 

Related Topics: Criminal Sentencing and Punishment, Prisons

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I think private prisons are better because anything the government becomes involved with becomes corrupt.
Margaret, Holdenville - Sep 24, 2007 at 7:33 am
What this country needs is to change some of their laws. If we had some laws like they have in third world countries, we wouldn't have so many prisons. When you do something bad enough to go to prison, you shouldn't have any rights. There are people that have been on death row for over 15 years. Why and at who's expense? Rapists, child molesters, and sex offenders needs to be castrated. If you steal, cut the hand that you stole the item with off. I could go on and on, but I am sure there are too many of you out there that think I am wrong.
Grace, Tulsa - Sep 21, 2007 at 3:35 pm
We are going to have to get this under control, despite the "throw away the key" mentality. A half a billion dollars, gee, for what?
The ONLY solution to this problem is to quit imprisioning people for drug crimes.
Kevin, Shawnee - Sep 21, 2007 at 12:40 pm

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