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DOC warns prison population will rise and outlines capacity options as jail backlog remains elevated

Joint Budget Committee — Department of Corrections and Parole Board
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Summary

Department officials presented DCJ projections showing rising prison population and limited unfunded bed capacity; DOC said short‑term options include converting single cells to double bunking and longer‑term options include leasing or building new facilities; jail backlog stood at 571 people on the day of the hearing.

Department of Corrections officials told the Joint Budget Committee that state projections indicate the prison population will climb over the next several years and that available in‑state bed capacity will shrink if no policy changes occur.

"As you can see, from FY27 to '28 it's a rise of almost 400 inmates," Mitch Carsons told the panel, describing DCJ projections. Carsons said current permanent bed capacity is roughly 16,000…

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