The Florida Department of Corrections is asking state lawmakers for about $20-million to fund what it says are three of its top priorities for the upcoming Legislative Session. The department's Deputy Secretary Mike Crews made the funding requests to a Senate Budget panel for Criminal and Civil Justice issues Thursday.
Among them is an increase in funding to pay for hundreds of new positions at 12 of the state’s prison facilities.
“These are the institutions that have the worst of the worst. A lot of the lifers are sitting at these institutions. It’s pretty clear these 12 that we need to provide some enhancements for staffing," said Crews. "This item of 12.5 million dollars will allow us to fill 247 positions.”
Crews’ second request was for $2.2-million to replace some of their inmate transport vehicles. His last request is for the department’s Security expenses funding, which go toward running all the prison facilities over the next three years. He’s asking for 7-million this year, and expects to ask for 14-million more in the next two years.
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