Budget cuts would risk prison safety, make jail crowding worse
Proposed budget cuts to the Montana Department of Corrections would close a care facility for frail inmates, leave youth sex offenders without a primary housing program and end plans to create a new drug addiction treatment center that observers say was sorely needed.
The cuts would require the state to lay off dozens of workers, adding to the workload of existing staff. More responsibilities would fall to local law enforcement. And routine overcrowding at county jails would almost certainly get worse.
State officials must cut $40.2 million over the current biennium from the DOC — one of the hardest-hit departments under the proposed cuts — or find another way to balance the budget.
Gov. Steve Bullock will have the final say on budget cuts and has urged lawmakers to raise taxes to lessen the blow. A legislative committee meets Monday and Tuesday to make recommendations.
Read more: http://billingsgazette.com/news/government-and-politics/budget-cuts-would-risk-prison-safety-make-jail-crowding-worse/article_c0729db0-6922-5118-9b6f-1769eea30b52.html