Corrections chief warns House budget cuts would abolish hundreds of positions and threaten safety, compliance

Helen Hanks, commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, told the Senate Finance Committee that the House-approved budget would abolish 149 positions across the agency and redirect funding for 41 sworn law-enforcement positions into overtime.

"The reductions were accomplished by abolishing 149 positions, an additional 41 sworn law enforcement positions were abolished and the associated funding was redirected to cover overtime costs," Commissioner Hanks said. She told senators 98 of the abolished positions were filled as of April 4, 2025. "The proposed abolishment of many of the civilian staff will shift their responsibilities to our corrections officer, which will only increase the department's reliance on overtime."

Why it matters: Hanks said civilian staff perform functions — from kitchen and laundry supervision to classification, medical, maintenance, and financial controls — that cannot simply be eliminated without substantial operational consequences. She warned that corrections officers would be required to take on noncustodial duties, increasing…