The Department of Correction is responsible for an average population of 10,000 inmates and the operation of over twenty correctional facilities. The Department also has reciprocal arrangements to place at-risk individuals in county and federal facilities. In Fiscal Year 1999, the Department will complete the construction of a new 1,025 bed medium security facility in Shirley. This facility, along with the 592 beds added in Fiscal Year 1997, will assist the Department in managing its increasing population level.

A top priority of the Weld/Cellucci Administration is to put more inmates to work. Requiring inmates to work while incarcerated makes prisons more safe and efficiently managed, generates revenue for restitution, and reduces recidivism. Thus, the Administration is again proposing the creation of the Massachusetts Prison Industries Enterprise Fund and legislation allowing private industry enhancement of prison work opportunities, or so-called PIE legislation. This legislation will enable Massachusetts Correctional Industries to function like a business and to establish public-private partnerships, thereby creating more inmate jobs.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 1998 includes $1 million of one-time expansion funds in the Massachusetts Correctional Industries account (8900-0010) to purchase a new motor vehicle registration plate manufacturing machine. A proposal for a specialty license plate program, in conjunction with the purchase of new manufacturing equipment, will improve production efficiency. This will make it possible for the Commonwealth to offer a greater number of specialty plates, thus generating additional revenue for the Commonwealth, charities, and other non-profit organizations.

Budgetary Direct Appropriations

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION FACILITIES
8900-0001	For the administration and operation of the commonwealth's correctional facilities, including the Nemansket treatment center	262,499,912

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION ADMINISTRATION
8900-0002	For the administration of the department of correction	4,090,223

MITIGATION GRANTS FOR CITIES AND TOWNS THAT HOST STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES
8900-0003	For local relief to mitigate the inordinate fiscal demand placed on the local life, health, and safety departments in those cities and towns hosting a state correctional facility; provided, that each such city and town shall receive a percentage of the total funds appropriated herein, which shall be equal to the percentage of the total state inmate population incarcerated within a state correctional facility located within such a city or town	997,000
	Local Aid Fund 100%

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION HEALTH SERVICES
8900-0004	For inmate health services	46,258,382

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
8900-0009	For inmate education services	3,298,224

PRISON INDUSTRIES AND FARM PROGRAM
8900-0010	For operation of prison industries and farm programs; provided, that one million dollars shall be made available for the purchase of a vehicle registration plate manufacturing machine	3,580,557

CORRECTIONAL RESIDENTIAL SERVICES
8900-0015	For correctional residential services	730,000

FEDERAL PRISON COMPONENT RESIDENTIAL SERVICES PROGRAM
8900-0016	For the cost of housing state inmates in federal prisons	840,000

Trust and Other Spending

8900-3599

MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES ENTERPRISE FUND

13,022,792

8900-9000

INMATE PROGRAM FUND

100,000