DOC Statement on Prison Closure Study

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             November 4, 2009

OLYMPIA - Eldon Vail, secretary of the Department of Corrections, today issued the following statement in regard to the facilities closure study conducted by a consultant, which was released by the Office of Financial Management:

“We need to take some time to scrutinize the study. It is a very large and detailed document that will take a while to thoroughly review. We need to analyze it carefully and compare the options and budget figures presented in it to make sure the findings match our budget information.

“We, like all other state agencies, will continue to look for ways to reduce spending. We will work with the governor to find options for inclusion in her budget that will not compromise public safety.

“As for the need to close DOC facilities: We will continue to manage our capacity based on the number of inmates in our system. We await the results of the next Caseload Forecast Council which will guide how we build our budget for the upcoming session.”

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Contact: Maria Peterson, Communications Department, 360-725-8802


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