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Appropriations panel hears Corrections requests as prison population strains in-state capacity
Summary
Corrections officials told the House Appropriations Committee they are overcapacity, asked for $4.55 million to expand the WellPath contract and sought funding for sheriff transports and out-of-state beds as Vermont facilities exceed usable general-population space.
Correctional officials told the House Appropriations Committee on Dec. 17 that Vermont’s prison system is operating over capacity and needs additional funding to keep services and programs running.
The interim commissioner for the Department of Corrections, John Murad, said the department requested a $4,550,643 general-fund increase to amend its WellPath staffing contract after the average daily population grew. Murad also described a separate $83,000 request to cover increased sheriff transport costs and a $389,955 request for added out-of-state beds under an existing contract.
Why it matters: Corrections officials said the department is carrying more detainees than in recent memory and cannot expand in-state capacity immediately, forcing use of temporary measures and contracted beds. Those choices carry operational costs, reduce programming space and complicate family contact for people in custody.
Details: Murad told the committee the WellPath amendment reflects…
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