The Executive Office of Public Safety fulfills what the Weld/Cellucci Administration believes is one of government's most essential functions: protecting people from being injured by others or by physical disaster. This responsibility is accomplished through enforcing the law, managing criminal offenders, maintaining order on the roads, and preparing for and responding to emergencies. In Fiscal Year 1998, the Executive Office will focus more energy on information technology systems, forensic sciences, public safety training, and improving violence prevention strategies.

The Administration is filing legislation to implement two significant initiatives that will enhance public safety: the transfer of post-sentencing probation services from the Judiciary to the Executive Office of Public Safety; and the elimination of county government and county corrections.

The transfer of probation services, effective July 1, 1998, will allow the criminal justice system to function more efficiently and with greater emphasis on the continuum of offender services it manages. Important improvements will be made to the probation surrender process through which probation violators are punished; as a result, potential violators will be presented with stronger incentives to serve the terms of their probation without incident. A reserve appropriation is included in the Executive Office for Administration and Finance to assist the Trial Court, Secretary of Administration and Finance, Department of Youth Services, and Secretary of Public Safety in resolving space, personnel, and information technology issues prior to this Fiscal Year 1999 transfer of probation services.

Consistent with the Weld/Cellucci Administration's plan to abolish county government, the Administration has filed a bill to transfer county corrections to the State in Fiscal Year 1999. As a first step in this direction, and pursuant to legislation contained in the Fiscal Year 1997 General Appropriations Act, the State will assume full responsibility for the management of corrections in the Franklin County region effective July 1, 1997.

Budget Recommendations

The amount recommended for Fiscal Year 1998 includes $5.49 million in a new account, 8910-0011, for the state assumption of the former Franklin County Corrections department. The proposed Fiscal Year 1998 budget also includes funding within the Office of the Secretary for the Committee on Criminal Justice, the Emergency Telecommunications Board (E-911), and the county corrections system. Finally, the proposed Fiscal Year 1998 budget contains an additional $5 million for the Community Policing account 8000-0010.