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Vermont DOC Tells Appropriations It Is Overcapacity, Seeks Budget Adjustments
Summary
Interim Commissioner John Murad told the Senate Appropriations Committee the Department of Corrections is at or above capacity in several facilities and presented Budget Adjustment Act requests to cover contracts, transport, hotel costs and heat-mitigation supplies; DOC also described plans for a new women's facility and use of out-of-state placements.
John Murad, interim commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections, told the Senate Appropriations Committee on Jan. 13 that the department is at or above capacity in several facilities and presented a package of Budget Adjustment Act requests to cover contract costs, staff hoteling, and heat-mitigation supplies.
"We are overcapacity in some of our facilities, and, overall, we are at capacity or above capacity already," Murad said. He told senators the department is holding about 1,650 people incarcerated or detained statewide, including roughly 150 people held out of state under contract, and supervises about 4,500 people in the community.
Marlene Petit, executive director of finance for DOC, walked the committee through BAA line items. Notable requests include an $83,000 increase tied to sheriff-transport costs, an estimated $225,000 for staff hotel costs related to transport and short-turnaround staffing, and a $60,000 increase for heat-mitigation supplies (fans, breathable clothing and water) under DOC policy 3.2.2. DOC also reported using a Random Moment Time Study to document probation staff time eligible for Medicaid reimbursement and to support a new global-commitment revenue offset.
Murad described how the department manages out-of-state placements under contract, saying the agency amended a contract to budget on an average daily population of 1,500 for planning purposes. "We contract with a facility in ... Mississippi," he said, and noted the department recently directed the return of approximately 30 people from an out-of-state placement.
Committee members pressed DOC on staffing and retention. Murad said the staffing deficit is "about 12" positions across the department but is most pronounced among front-line correctional officer classifications. He confirmed mandatory overtime remains in effect at many sites and said that while pay is available, extended mandatory overtime undermines retention.
Lawmakers also questioned how DOC handles federal immigration detainees. Murad said the department can and does refuse additional immigration detainees when local facilities are at capacity and offered Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility — the state's women's facility — as an example of a site that has been over its nominal capacity.
On the women's facility, Murad said DOC is working with Buildings and General Services to issue an RFP for a new facility after two state-owned properties in Essex were found not properly zoned. He said the department wants a facility near existing services and staff commutes and expects the new facility to include separate reentry beds and programming. "We have 172 women as of this morning," Murad said when asked about the current population; he added the department anticipates needing a slightly larger total population capacity in a replacement facility and that full build costs have not yet been determined.
DOC did not request a committee vote on any of the BAA items during the hearing. Officials offered to provide additional follow-up materials and numbers on some items (including the specific figure for people held because they lack housing upon release).
The committee moved next to testimony from the Department for Children and Families.
