Here’s some bad news out of Madison:
Madison — Administration Secretary Michael Morgan told state agencies today that the looming state budget deficit means they will have to cut operations spending by more than 10%.
The agencies were under orders in June to submit plans by Monday to cut their administrative operations by 10%. But today Morgan told them the deadline is being extended because they will have to cut further into their budgets since the worsening economy has plunged the state into a $5 billion deficit through mid-2011.
Morgan’s letter does not say how much agencies must cut their budgets or when their plans are due. The proposals will be used by Doyle to shape the budget he will introduce early next year, the letter said.
There’s no denying there’s some room for state agencies to improve efficiency and make cuts without drastically affecting services, but I wonder how an agency like the Department of Corrections will be able to cut over ten percent out of the agency’s budget without affecting the agency’s ability to safely and effectively operate prisons and supervise those individuals on probation and parole. Fewer corrections officers and probation and parole agents wouldn’t be a good thing for our communities, so where does the Department of Corrections make its cuts?
As a result of the bad news about the state budget deficit and the order to make budget cuts of ten percent, the Department of Corrections has instituted a hiring freeze, which might seem like a good idea on the surface, but given the high costs the Department has incurred to pay overtime to corrections officers and probation and parole agents, it seems to me it would make sense to evaluate just how many new positions would need to be filled to reduce or eliminate overtime, and then hire enough new employees to provide equilibrium, so that the Department could save some money.
Then again, what do I know…I’m not paid to make those kinds of decisions.
Good comments! The Department of Corrections has to change their way of doing things and start working and funding more local programs that help people reenter the community after they have been in prison. There are small programs in Madison (Madision Urban Ministry and the newer Middle Passage II) and programs in Milwaukee. There need to be more beause 2/3 of ex-prisoners will go back to prison if nothing is done to help them. If you can cut down the number of prisoners going back to prison, you can save a lot of money, much more than the cost of the programs.
We also need to work with at-risk youth and the families of prisoners. A child who has a parent that is in prison or has been in prison is twice as likely to end up there themselves.
Wisconsin locks up more people, especially black people, than just about any other state. We need to help communities develop programs to stop this cycle. Many local programs are faith-based and the costs are very reasonable. Many prisoners, especially black prisoners, respond to faith-based approaches because of their family backgrounds.
The Department of Corrections is just starting to ask for proposals from community groups. I help a friend at Middle Passage II, who is writing a proposal right now. We need to bring local resources, like churches, together to provide counceling and mentoring, not only for prisoners, but for their families.
Bill, I agree wholeheartedly that the Department needs to do a better job of providing reentry programs, but I also believe there needs to be more of an emphasis on partnering with nonprofits in the community who cold also provide services to offenders returning to the community.
Faith-based programs have a proven track record of success…
With over 2 million Americans in prisons and 650,000 returning to neighborhoods each year, the opportunities for faith-based and community organizations to serve people affected by the criminal justice system has never been greater. Prison officials are increasingly turning to the faith community as partners because they recognize the truth of what research studies have said for some time – Faith belief positively influences offender rehabilitation. Faith leadership and volunteers offer relationships based on love and accountability and help offenders’ develop a moral compass that enables them to navigate the challenges of prison life and reentry.
Unfortunately, many current prison programs avoid any discussion of faith and morality and are reluctant to partner with faith-based groups. Job training and education alone cannot produce the changed heart that leads to lasting transformation in an offender’s life. For some inmates, such programs devoid of Faith merely make them more effective criminals. These programs cannot break the power of evil, which is the root of crime, in offenders’ lives, nor can they effectively shift offenders’ focus from their own needs and desires to the people around them.
Wisconsin’s prison population has doubled since 1995 and the state corrections budget is over a billion dollars. Thousands of Wisconsin men, women and children are now in prison disproportionately black men and women; Wisconsin ranks number one in the nation in disparity shattering families and endangering children. When they return to the community, many find no future – return to prison and the cycle continues with far reaching consequences for our lives in Wisconsin. We need your help!!!Get involved! Volunteer with Middle Passage II –MinistriesTo volunteer email your contact information to: info@middlepassageii.com or call 608-241-2313
We need to tax and regulate Marijuana. That will save some money and free up resources for crimes with actual victims.