Legislature negotiates prison restructuring

[BarbaraAnnVT]

Legislature negotiates prison restructuring
12:30 p.m.
May 1, 2008

The Associated Press

MONTPELIER — Vermont’s prison system is another step closer to being overhauled after legislative negotiators agreed on a plan that would move female inmates to the St. Albans prison and close the existing women’s facility in Waterbury.

One sticking point between the negotiators trying to wrap up the 2008 legislative session was the speed with which the restructuring would take place.

Senate negotiators believe the change has to begin this year as a way to reduce the rate of growth of spending by the Corrections Department.

Some Democrats in the House said they would have preferred to explore alternatives to closing the Dale prison.

Burlington Rep. Jason Lorber said the House was “uncomfortable moving forward” with the plan to moving all female inmates to St. Albans and opening a work camp at the Windsor facility, which now houses women.

“We can’t wait,” said Lamoille County Sen. Susan Bartlett, a Democrat. “It is not an option to wait.”

In addition to closing the Dale prison — the state’s most expensive facility — the restructuring would move nonviolent male offenders to a new, less-expensive work camp. The savings from the changes would be invested in increased substance abuse treatment and housing after prison.

Male inmates now housed in St. Albans would be sent to other facilities. The Windsor prison would become the site of a new prison work camp.

But late Wednesday the House negotiators agreed to moving the prison restructuring proposal forward.