Gov. John Lynch yesterday proposed sweeping changes to the state's prison system, changes that would leave about 90 workers jobless, one prison closed, some inmates deported and some potentially sent home to be confined there with ankle bracelet monitors.
The biggest change that Lynch, a Democrat, proposed in his budget address yesterday: shuttering the Lakes Region Facility, a 315-inmate, minimum-security prison that has long been eyed for closure.
The Department of Corrections could close the Laconia prison by July, according to prison system spokesman Jeff Lyons. About 80 corrections staffers work at the Laconia prison, he said; all told, the governor's office expected 90 cuts across the corrections system. Corrections Commissioner William Wrenn was unavailable for comment yesterday because he spent much of the day in Laconia, Lyons said.
Lyons cautioned that corrections layoffs will likely affect every prison because laid-off state employees who have seniority have "bumping rights," or the ability to take the job of a more junior employee. While Lynch proposed doing away with bumping rights yesterday, it was unclear whether that rule change would happen before the Laconia prison closed.
The Lakes Region Facility, formerly the Laconia State School for the Developmentally Disabled, was not built to be a prison, Lyons said, adding that "it's always been our least effective and most costly facility."
Some additional inmates will be sent to the state prison in Berlin. Meanwhile, Lynch said, the Corrections Department is "evaluating expanding the use of electronic monitoring and home confinement for nonviolent traffic offenders - at a cost of $7 a day versus nearly $100 a day per inmate."
The most surprising plan Lynch unveiled yesterday was to work with the federal government to send some nonviolent illegal immigrants back to their home countries faster.
"There are between 100 and 200 nonviolent illegal immigrants in our prison system whom the federal government already plans to deport," Lynch said. "The Department of Corrections will enter an agreement with the U.S. Immigration Services to speed those deportations."
This shift involves a program called Rapid REPAT - Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer. It has already been used in Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.
At present, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers flag an illegal immigrant in state custody with something called a "detainer," a notice that when the inmate is let out of prison, ICE officials will pick him up, said ICE spokeswoman Paula Grenier.
It wasn't immediately clear how or whether state officials would be able to cut down the sentences of illegal immigrants. Lyons said that current law requires all inmates to serve until at least their minimum parole date and that corrections officials were considering requesting a state law change on that point.
U.S. Attorney Tom Colantuano, whose office was facilitating talks between state and federal officials, said he's not worried about an increased number of deported immigrants returning to the country to reoffend.
"If you look at it strictly from a federal prosecutor's perspective, whether they serve out a whole term or only part of their term doesn't really change the equation of whether they're a risk to come back into the country," Colantuano said.
Meanwhile, renovations to the Berlin prison will start as soon as next week, Lyons said, with inmates and corrections employees converting one of the facility's two gymnasiums into dorm space. The Berlin prison, which now houses 550 inmates, was built to be expanded, with enough pipes and wiring to handle a population of up to 1,000 inmates, Lyons said.
In his budget address, Lynch also called on lawmakers to rethink corrections more broadly. He suggested partnering with neighboring states to create a 2,000- to 3,000-bed Northern New England Correctional Facility, which, he said, could allow the state to close the "crumbling" prison in Concord and "provide jobs in a struggling part of our state." (next page »)
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Comments
Re: Crumbling Prison in Concord
By Anonymous - 02/14/2009 - 8:15 pmI'm not sure what you're talking about, but I know for a fact because I worked there, that some of the cells in R&D are still controlled by a manual turn wheel! That place really is falling apart, and it's not big enough to house all the inmates. It's a disaster behind the walls!
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To: One of the most recent pay offs to one CO in particular is a
By Anonymous - 02/14/2009 - 12:56 pmHow much was this payoff and for what? Its good to see that others agree that the scum always floats to the top. Commissioner Wrenn clearly has his hands full.
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RE: Prison Closure
By Anonymous - 02/14/2009 - 11:37 amSometimes the winners of suits are just less guilty than the ones who accuse them and yet we spend millions to pay them off. One of the most recent pay offs to one CO in particular is a joke. He was very abusive to staff nevermind inmates and yet he "retires" with much of the tax base money. Wonderful world we work in. This is why the budgets are blown.
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Home Confinement for Prisoners
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 11:14 pmThis is a total laugh. If there could be more prisoners at home the NH Dept. of Corrections would have sent them there long ago. The fact is that these prisoners have no home. The commissioner of corrections is living in a fantasy world along with Governor Alice in Wonderland. The new program for corrections should be for NH citizens to Adopt a Felon. Maybe the governor would take one home to his house. Or open a 1/2 way house in Hopkinton. Closing a facility that sends felons back to the street with no rehabilitative programming and no home to go to is a risk to the NH way of life. And, is much more life threatening than a slot-machine at a dog track. Wake up Lynch!
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Crumbling Prison in Concord?
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 11:05 pmWhere is this prison? Although it is prudent to consider building a new prison the rhetoric form Governor Lynch that the Concord Prison is crumbling is akin to chicken little claiming that "the sky is falling". Certainly said more for effect than truth. The truth is that the Concord Prison was totally rebuilt in the lat 80's and has only 20 years of use. Although it would be prudent to consider building a new facility in the the NEXT 10 years it is a waste of taxpayer money to consider it now in a financial crisis. Could Governor Lynch be considering the privatization of New Hamshire Prisons? Lke the one that is burning today in Texas?
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why not find things that
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 9:22 pmwhy not find things that have to be done in nh..and give these people you will lay off a job.....they did that during the depression...my father-in-law said he was one of the ones who built the stone wall at rollins park...they had different jobs for the people who didn't have one..
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To:mental health costs that victims suffer from crimes
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 6:35 pmHello, do you think we are all stupid? How about the the fifty plus inmate victims of sexual abuse by guards? How many millions has that cost? How about the two plus million paid for guards who are still employed there who lied to set up other guards in an inmate abuse case? There isn't much difference between the jailed and the jailers in this state.
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To: Prison Closure
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 6:29 pmLets face it the guards are nothing more than criminals in a different uniform. How many dozens of the guards have had illicit sex with inmates there? How many millions have been paid out in lawsuits? Why is that the guards who lied under oath and set up innocent guards to be fired for abusing an inmate still employed there? How many guard have and still are stealing inmate medications? Close most of the prisons and let non violent offenders return home, put the offending guards in jail and we will have a much better state.
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Academy Program
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 6:18 pmThanks for being candid and forthright. It wasn't too long ago the trainers were having sex with the trainees in quid pro quo fashion. I'm also glad to see you pointed out how dumbed down the Academy is. They have to have it that way in order to get enough low lifes to apply there. There is absolutely no standards of excellence there.
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Note that I copied the
By RBaker - 02/13/2009 - 5:25 pmNote that I copied the infomation from another source - I am only suggesting the idea
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PRISON
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 5:14 pmGET RID OF THE OVERPAID COMMAND STAFF WHO FAIL TO COMMAND AND EXPAND THE CO POSITIONS WHO MAKE THE SYSTEM FUNCTION. ALSO, AFTER DUMPING THE HIGH PAID COMMAND STAFF, BRING BACK RETIRED SGTS AND LTS WHO KNOW HOW TO RUN THE DECK.
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Academy Program
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 5:12 pmThe Academy program they make all people working in the prison go through is a total waste of time and money. I sat through it and wanted to gouge out my eyes on a daily basis! Going there five days a week for four weeks is the absolute biggest waste of time ever. The officers have to go for eight weeks and at least they get to learn how to use a firearm. Plus, as a college graduate, I was insulted at the dumbed-down presentation of materials. They make even the line staff march around, have to get black boots or shoes that can take a shine....it's so pointless and ridiculous!
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What a joke
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 5:08 pmI know of at least one position at the DOC that could be eliminated and no one would care...Administrator of Programs.
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get rid of the academy program!
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 4:35 pmthis is a broken program that serves no one, it is very costly and should go.
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Alternative revenue could be a state bottle bill
By RBaker - 02/13/2009 - 4:24 pmHelp the environment, income potential for private organizations, bring in state revenue to help save programs. NH residents collect from tourist of other states. All our surrounding states have adopted this plan - why not NH?
The bottle tax might be a way for struggling organization to seek out revenues and NH residents feel good about recycling. I am not saying this plan is perfect but rather open a discussion as a possible solution.
BOSTON Initially passed decades ago by states looking to promote recycling and help fight pollution, bottle bills are now becoming popular proposals for states looking for any extra infusion of cash.
Massachusetts is one of the latest to suggest expanding its nickel deposit law from carbonated beverages to include bottled water, juice and sports drinks. Gov. Deval L. Patrick says the state could collect an extra $58 million for the 2010 budget by collecting the unclaimed deposits.
Consumers in Massachusetts now pay an extra nickel for each bottle of beer or soda but get the nickel back when they return bottles to stores or redemption centers. If consumers do not redeem the bottles, the state receives the nickel.
Connecticut, New York, Iowa and Michigan also are reintroducing measures this session to expand their existing deposit laws hoping to join Maine, California, Oregon and Hawaii in passing broader bottle bills.
The proposals have drawn praise from recycling groups as a win-win situation but cynicism from retailers, who call the moves political money grabs.
Many previous efforts to expand bottle deposit laws have been stymied by lobbying from retailers or lawmakers who say it's an extra tax on consumers. They're relying on people not returning containers so the unredeemed nickels go to the state. That's very poor public policy,said Chris Flynn, president of the Massachusetts Food Association, which has long opposed the bottle law. What's next? If the budget deficit isn't fixed, will we bring all trash back to the store?
Tough economic times have made environmental advocates optimistic the bills will pass now. Ivan Frishberg, political director at Environment America, said he sees the same effect in the U.S. Senate's inclusion of clean energy initiatives in its economic recovery bill.
Let's not kid ourselves the reason it's in there is it's a twofer. It's good for the environment and good for economy, Frishberg said.
In Massachusetts, Patrick proposed the expansion as a way to generate extra cash for the general fund, recycling and solid waste management programs and the Massachusetts Water and Sewer Rate Relief Fund.
In New York, the money would go toward municipal recycling and environmental projects. In Indiana, extra money from creating a bottle deposit law would include providing revenue to the Indiana heritage trust fund.
Supporters say noncarbonated beverages were nonexistent when the bottle law was enacted and adding them would simply update it. Craig Stevens, spokesman for the American Beverage Association, said this is the wrong time to essentially add another tax to consumers.
What we're hearing now is that many of these states are trying to close gaps in their budget, he said. If they're doing this under the guise of increasing recycling, this is the wrong way to increase recycling.
Stevens added he sees the bottle deposit as a tax and if states wanted to increase recycling rates, they would improve curbside recycling.
In Massachusetts, the state received $39.2 million from unclaimed deposits in fiscal year 2007, when redemption was 66 percent. The governor contends updating the bottle law to include noncarbonated beverages would raise the 2.2 billion redeemable containers sold annually to 3.7 billion, bringing in the extra $20 million.
Dohee Kim, a consultant who was recently laid off, said she wouldn't appreciate the extra nickel on her purchases as she carried her bottled water and juice out of the Whole Foods market in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood.
I personally wouldn't like to be charged extra because I do recycle right now, Kim said. "I don't see why that would motivate people to recycle more
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prison closure
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 1:29 pmThis is a sad joke to say the least.To close LRF Prison means all movement stops there is no where to move to.Right now 12 to 18 inmates move to LRFPrison every week,that means 12 to 18 inmates move from NHSP-M to LRF.Now that means the county farms valley street ect can move 12 to 18 inmates waiting bed space to NHSP-M. They just funneld all movement and created over crowding,Now in 6 months when the 150 inmates that they released break parole get arrested wich they will where do they go the system is full.Now they are talking about making it harder to come back to prison why do we really want our crime rate to go up cause thats what is gonmna happen,This really should be voted down come up with something else this isnt the answer.Maybe move the woman to LRF behind the fence cuts renting Goffstown and keep men outside the fence that are ready to hit the streets there are 3 building there and officers keep there jobs and there not layed off saves money all the way around
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Reality of closing a prison
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 10:53 amThe majority of so called "non traffic violent offenders," have already been given several breaks through our court system before they finally end up in the State Prison. This Budget Plan will release more repeat offenders into the community. Closing down a prison will also add more offenders to an already overcrowded Correctional System. Which means that more serious offenders will be paroled to the community to create bedspace for new sentenced offenders. The bottom line is that there will be more offenders released into the community where there are no jobs and not enough community support programs (because of costs) to help offenders. Add in the costs when offenders commit new crimes: law enforcement costs to arrest and investigate, court costs to prosecute and defend, restitution costs to victims, and most important of all are the mental health costs that victims suffer from crimes. I believe in the long term this will be more costly to the citizens of NH.
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Saddened
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 8:43 amIts makes me unhappy to think that the public thinks so little of the Officers that watch the murderers, molesters, cop killers, rapists... These people go above and beyond every day to come to work and keep this thing going... cause giving someone a life in prison sentence means there's someone there watching them. What if an officer reads the paper...? Would you rather they entertain these Felons ? I say thank you to the men and woman who provide a very difficult service...! THANK YOU !!!
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Lakes Region
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 8:39 amThe Commissioner might be able to speak for himself but if I am correct he is on vacation...his state vehicle will probably be parked in his garage or driveway! Way to enforce leaving your cars at work! And why would he recommend closing the prison that the state owns vs. the one they lease? Perhaps because his proposal to update the leased prison got denied- and the Governor has the audacity to say how it needs to be improved?!?!? How about stop paying the lease $$ and put it into the repairs for the one we own...I guess if you are like the Governor and don't have to worry about money- you just throw things away and replace them?!?!
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Prison is like a game
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 8:34 amIn this game, family members die, souls are kept hostage, the earth is near destruction, and ducks have the ability to spit fire at large Angelic Monsters. At least that's how it was for me. It's like when you play monopoly and grandma happens to take all your hotels and just win...it's outrageous.
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prisons and house of corrections
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 8:30 am90% of inmates are alcohol and drug related crimes, we need more rehabs and educantion. not jail time once in the system only one person can help those people and they spend months waiting treatment in jail/prison....
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80 Work at Prison
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 7:16 amThats clearly a joke. The guards are nothing more than retired on active duty. They spend most of their shift reading newspapers, eating or sexaully harassing each other. They need to clean house at all their facilities and get rid of the corrupt and non performing employees. This budget problem is the best opportunity ever to get rid of criminals in a guards uniform. Lets hope they get rid of the bumping rights that has served no one other than the non performers who do little to nothing their entire shift.
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Academy
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 6:39 amThe department of corrections can save another 1.6 million dollars over the next two years getting rid of the academy program. This program does not work and is a waste of money.
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Savings!
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 6:21 amPeople talk about trimming the fat at the top, which never gets done. I'd rather see a couple of extra prison guards on duty than having all these department spokespeople. Can't the commissioner talk? There is so much pork at the top of our administrations making the big bucks and the guy that gets things done is laid off.
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job cuts
By Anonymous - 02/13/2009 - 5:04 amthe way to fund the budget shortfalls are a sales tax and other taxes such as licquor and tobacco. not a income tax. the mindset in concord needs to be changed. the no new taxes thing is getting old, its time new hampshire to vote these cronies out of there next time and bring some common sense to concord.
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