Lawmakers debate restoring $5 million for prison modernization as corrections leaders warn of safety risks

Guam senators pressed for restoring $5 million in funding for the Department of Corrections (DOC) during the committee’s appropriations hearing, saying the agency still faces safety and compliance risks that modernization money was intended to fix.

The hearing record shows DOC leadership asking repeatedly for additional funding to restart architecture-and-engineering (A&E) work and renovation projects after an earlier procurement was canceled. Director statements read into the record and senators’ remarks stressed concern about the safety of corrections staff and detainees.

The budget materials presented by staff list DOC line items for FY26 including $34,234,475 from the general fund; $936,927 from the Department of Corrections Inmate Revolving Fund; and $19,995 from the Safe Streets Fund. The packet also lists a $495,252 outright appropriation from the general fund for in-custody costs for prisoners confined at federal facilities; $294,610 for user access and maintenance of the corrections management system; $3,650,000 (general fund) under an MOU with Guam Memorial Hospital for inmate health care services; and $1,645,540 to fund an FY26 recruit cycle of 20 corrections officers.

Senators pressed budget staff on why the FY26 bill does not include the $5 million that had been appropriated in FY25 for DOC infrastructure. Budget staff told the committee they omitted the $5 million because the A&E contract was canceled and there was no clear timeline for restarting procurement; one staffer said the $4,000,000 balance from last year remains available to DOC.

Several senators, including Senator Barnett and others, argued the money is still needed. Senator Barnett read a written warning attributed to DOC leadership into the record: “Don’t gamble with the lives of officers, staff, employees and the community of our island,” and urged colleagues to restore the appropriation so DOC can resume planning and immediate repairs.

Budget officials noted a prior amendment in FY25 that redirected $1,000,000 of a $5,000,000 appropriation to operational repairs; they said about $4,000,000 remains in the account. Staff described the original $5 million annual set-aside under the Modernization Act as intended to support future debt service if the government borrows to build a new prison.

Multiple senators and the chair of the public safety committee stressed that the DOC A&E procurement previously returned bids far above the $5 million—one procurement produced a vendor estimate of approximately $16 million—so the original appropriation would not cover the full cost of construction. Lawmakers debated whether to use remaining balances for urgent repairs and to re-initiate an A&E procurement, or to restore a separate $5 million appropriation to fund modernization planning and enable future financing.

Committee members described work still pending at the Attorney General’s office: the A&E contract for an initial phase was said to be awaiting legal signature. Several senators urged coordination among DOC, the Department of Public Works, GEDA and the governor’s office to identify a financing pathway and to ensure the $4 million already appropriated can be used immediately for repairs while the A&E process proceeds.

No final vote or appropriation change was recorded in the hearing transcript; senators said they had amendments prepared to restore $5 million during later stages of the bill.

Why it matters: Senators said delaying infrastructure work can exacerbate federal compliance risk, raise long-term costs, and imperil staff safety. Budget staff and multiple senators recommended clarifying procurement scope, confirming whether DPW or DOC leads the procurement, and coordinating financing before adding major capital appropriations.

What comes next: Senators indicated they would offer amendments during engrossment to restore funds or to reassign available balances to operational repairs; committee staff said they would follow up with DOC and DPW on the status of the A&E contract and on the remaining $4,000,000 balance.