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Romney Warns Of Layoffs In Prisons If Budget Request Is Not Approved

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Posted by: JGH_7223

ROMNEY WARNS OF LAYOFFS IN PRISONS IF BUDGET REQUEST IS NOT APPROVED

By Amy Lambiaso
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
amy.lambiaso@statehousenews.com

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, NOV. 29, 2005…..Without additional state money and immediate legislative action, more than 300 correction employees will face layoffs Jan. 1, putting their colleagues, prison inmates and the public in danger, Gov. Mitt Romney said Tuesday.

In a letter accompanying a new $12.8 million spending request, Romney said rising fuel and medical costs, coupled with a 4 percent increase in the state's inmate population this year, have increased the budgetary needs of the Department of Correction.

Union officials and one lawmaker blamed the shortfall on poor management of the corrections system.

Romney said the additional funds would allow the department to maintain current staffing levels and meet projected obligations for the remaining seven months of the fiscal year. The department is operating with a $431 million annual budget that supports roughly 5,400 full-time and contractual employees.

A failure to act "may imperil the safety of the remaining employees at DOC, the inmates, and the public," Romney wrote in his letter to the Legislature.

But one leading lawmaker said the deficiency points to the larger issue that lawmakers and the administration are not spending money wisely on criminal justice programs. Sen. Jarrett Barrios (D-Cambridge) said more emphasis ought to be on programs that are intended to reduce recidivism.

"This is a Band-Aid solution," said Barrios, co-chairman of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. "It's a Band-Aid we need to apply, but ultimately one which documents the failure in criminal justice leadership."

Steve Kenneway, president of the Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union, said he was "shocked" to learn of the possible layoffs, and said layoffs would require more officers to work overtime shifts.

"I can't begin to tell you how bad it is in the facilities right now," Kenneway said, citing roughly 650 vacancies currently existing for his bargaining unit that represents nearly 80 percent of the state's correction officers. "This is a huge problem. They're trying to hire more officers, but they're not doing anything to retain the ones they have."

Kenneway also questioned why the issue had not been raised earlier this month, when the Legislature was meeting in formal sessions and voting on a supplemental budget for this fiscal year. Lawmakers are meeting in informal sessions, considering mostly non-controversial issues, until January.

Kelly Nantel, spokeswoman for the department, said DOC has been working with the Executive Office of Public Safety and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance on the department's needs. "This is a bare bones budget," she said. "We're not looking for more than we need


Posted by: DEVO

wonderful


Posted by: KozmoKramer

Devo - you, Dogma, MPKPERK, fjmas, all came to mind.
Those of you who have graduated and those of you within an inch of getting hired. This f'ing sucks.

I hope the budget gets passed. Still looks like the dept. is down a bunch of men.

JGH - has the new flow of recruits helped much, or is there still such a void of manpower?


Posted by: dcs2244

Romney s#x...we just voted down our contract offer...I'm sure we'll pay for that before this turd is gone.


Posted by: KozmoKramer

Romney, Reilly? As Moe Howard would have said; "Your Ew-scrayed..."
IMHO Neither are hold much appeal.... Ones an out of touch self-centered pixie, another - a dye in the wool commie. As the Sein would say; "Good Luck with all that..."


Posted by: rg1283

WTF. Makes no sense. I know lets do what the Duke did lets just let people out of jail early. Blah I wasn't even around then. Its just upsetting, the local towns pull the same crap, uh well we have enough money to keep those two police officers on until July, but ummmn we will need a propostion 2 1/2 override (which never happens) and even with that we will be in the same situation next year. Its like Wake-up! its so angering. One big cluster mess!


Posted by: JGH_7223

Koz,

We only got seven new officers from the last academy and seven transferred out and seven in. Still overtime is plentiful. This has happened in the past but I have never heard of layoffs. They need more through the academy. The Department is still short.JGH

Quote:
Originally Posted by KozmoKramer
Devo - you, Dogma, MPKPERK, fjmas, all came to mind.
Those of you who have graduated and those of you within an inch of getting hired. This f'ing sucks.

I hope the budget gets passed. Still looks like the dept. is down a bunch of men.

JGH - has the new flow of recruits helped much, or is there still such a void of manpower?



Posted by: WMPERK4

This does suck. Here I've sat for the last month waiting to hear if I'm in or not and now this. Hopefully the budget gets passed. This would suck for me not getting in because of this, but I would still have the job I am at currently. I feel bad for the guys who just graduated and could be out of a job within a month. Welcome to Mass. lets not worry about the CJ system and continue to make cuts in PO's and DOC, but lets make sure we get our raises.


Posted by: DEVO

Supposedly they are still short 600 and something officers, if they were to ax 300 employees, whether it is officers or other employees the department would be crippled. So things will get very interesting in the next few months to say the least. We'll have to see how strong the union actually is.


Posted by: RPD931

Don't worry though, Bulger still gets his $209,000 for life. Assmunch.


Posted by: JGH_7223

Quote:
Originally Posted by DEVO
Supposedly they are still short 600 and something officers, if they were to ax 300 employees, whether it is officers or other employees the department would be crippled. So things will get very interesting in the next few months to say the least. We'll have to see how strong the union actually is.
DEVO,

I would not sweat it.The closes in the past was pink slips issued but no one ever has been lay-ed off. We are still short officers so they will still need to run the academy.JGH


Posted by: KozmoKramer

JGH - where are the SBCC officers transferring to? Shirley Med. or Norfolk?


Posted by: JGH_7223

Quote:
Originally Posted by KozmoKramer
JGH - where are the SBCC officers transferring to? Shirley Med. or Norfolk?
Koz, Norfolk and the State Hospital is the only two that I know of.We received a lot of officers from Shirley Medium. JGH


Posted by: KozmoKramer

I find that interesting JGH.
That there are officers that actually opt for Max instead of Medium security.
I'm curious as to why someone would want to put themselves in a more dangerous environment, or are there other reasons that I'm unaware of?

DEVO \ Dogma - shoot me a PM and let me know how your first few weeks on the block have been.
Have a good weekend boys.


Posted by: BartA1

WTF? As if the guys in the DOC dont have enough to worry about without having this thrown at them. Hopefully Romney gets sent packing in 2006


Posted by: dcs2244

I think you can count on it, BartA1. The Romney family has no honor, therefore, there is no reason for us to support him. He lied to the state police...what's to make you think he won't lie to all of you in order to get your endorsement? He's a "Rockefeller Republican", anyway...Hillary is further to the right than he'll ever be...


Posted by: JGH_7223

Quote:
Originally Posted by KozmoKramer
I find that interesting JGH.
That there are officers that actually opt for Max instead of Medium security.
I'm curious as to why someone would want to put themselves in a more dangerous environment, or are there other reasons that I'm unaware of?

DEVO Dogma - shoot me a PM and let me know how your first few weeks on the block have been.
Have a good weekend boys.
Better days off, change of pace. I would be speculating. JGH


Posted by: USMCTrooper

This is NOT to start another heated debate but doesn't this seem like an opportunity for the DOC Union to lobby against the millions being wastefully spent by certain sheriffs (not all) on non-essential toys? I don't know how much a DOC first year employee makes, but I'm sure $500,000 for a few of them vs. a black painted tank is a no brainer. The DOC just graduated 2 classes less than 30 days ago. I am sure those people are very happy to hear this....

ps Romney didn't even appear at their graduation. Flynn was the guest speaker.


Posted by: PearlOnyx

USMC,

I completely agree with you that some of the Sheriff's Departments are wasting money. However, isn't most of that being paid for with grant money, which if let's say wasn't spent, could not be spent by the DOC or a similar agency on staffing? The DOC already has some nice light armored vehicles (bought second hand from the National Guard I believe), so the grant would really be of no use to them. I guess what I'm getting at is, what does one have to do with the other? I'm just trying to keep this a bit on topic, because we all know where this is going to go eventually.


Posted by: USMCTrooper

I know some of the sheriffs toys came from grant money. If that grant money could not be used for any other purpose, I do not know. However, the DOC Union should be lobbying against the large budgets for certain sheriffs who also seem to be getting large grants and are not exclusively in corrections.

Keeping on topic, how can we as a public society feel good about our prison system cutting guards and potentially releasing inmates early or placing added burdens on those guards who remain?
I chose the sheriffs budgets because they are also corrections. Any monies spent on non correctional functions should be looked at. Every dollar spent on a non-correctional function can't be from grants. Therefore, its gravy to the meal. When one person (DOC) is facing hunger and the other person (certain sheriffs) can afford food and dessert, something isn't balanced right. The DOC just graduated 2 classess less than 30 days ago. I am sure those people are thrilled to hear this news.

Basic personnel is first. If the reverse were true my argument would be the same.

Budgets for a local PD, a local FD, the RMV, the DCR, MSP, etc etc do not apply for the simple fact no one else in Massachusetts is involved with the prison system. I am keeping apples to apples.


Posted by: Barbrady

Quote:
Originally Posted by USMCTrooper

Keeping on topic, how can we as a public society feel good about our prison system cutting guards and potentially releasing inmates early or placing added burdens on those guards who remain?
Guards, thats like me calling you AAA with a badge, its just doesn't sound as nice. Honestly, no offense taken.


Posted by: USMCTrooper

Quote:

Guards, thats like me calling you AAA with a badge, its just doesn't sound as nice. Honestly, no offense taken.
AAA with a GUN, a GUN......get it right! AAA already gives out badges...they say constable on them!


Posted by: nirtallica

Quote:
Originally Posted by USMCTrooper
I know some of the sheriffs toys came from grant money. If that grant money could not be used for any other purpose, I do not know. However, the DOC Union should be lobbying against the large budgets for certain sheriffs who also seem to be getting large grants and are not exclusively in corrections.

Keeping on topic, how can we as a public society feel good about our prison system cutting guards and potentially releasing inmates early or placing added burdens on those guards who remain?
I chose the sheriffs budgets because they are also corrections. Any monies spent on non correctional functions should be looked at. Every dollar spent on a non-correctional function can't be from grants. Therefore, its gravy to the meal. When one person (DOC) is facing hunger and the other person (certain sheriffs) can afford food and dessert, something isn't balanced right. The DOC just graduated 2 classess less than 30 days ago. I am sure those people are thrilled to hear this news.

Basic personnel is first. If the reverse were true my argument would be the same.

Budgets for a local PD, a local FD, the RMV, the DCR, MSP, etc etc do not apply for the simple fact no one else in Massachusetts is involved with the prison system. I am keeping apples to apples.
I agree. Today I saw a semi-unmarked, blacked out Bristol County Sheriff's cruiser on the road. Why does the Sheriff need a semi-marked cruiser?


Posted by: popo

Quote:
Originally Posted by USMCTrooper
AAA with a GUN, a GUN......get it right! AAA already gives out badges...they say constable on them!



Posted by: popo

Quote:
Originally Posted by nirtallica
I agree. Today I saw a semi-unmarked, blacked out Bristol County Sheriff's cruiser on the road. Why does the Sheriff need a semi-marked cruiser?
To impersonate the REAL police.


Posted by: GateKeeper

Guards, guards, guards..., most have never slured or nicknamed another's professions.

So, not to stray away from the topic, but I think we, as Correction Officers or CO's have earned and fought for that right within the DOC. Although they (DOC) don't care a bit about us.

Apples to apples (as you said), if your going to bring the DOC into your argument with the Sheriffs Department (to whom I also respect), I would appreciate it if you refered to us in the DOC as CO's, at the very least.

Thank you though for looking out for our best interest regarding lay offs.

But the Sheriffs Depatments in the Counties don't effect the Mass DOC's budget. The DOC receives grants as well, to which they spend as they want, and usually for what they want with nothing to do with the line staff.

And old school Unions don't clash with other Unions based upon what their getting. Unions don't fight against each other. It's none productive.

Also, releasing inmate's is on the State's parole board. To which, I believe is appointed by our Governor. Blame him for the crap that is hitting the streets, not the DOC or Sheriffs Department.


Posted by: JGH_7223

The Legislation approved the 12.5 million according to Worcester Telegram article on 8 December, 2005. Hope this puts some people at ease. JGH


Posted by: KozmoKramer

Well Said Gate..
Good news JGH.


Posted by: PearlOnyx

NIR,

For some of those facilities housing federal inmates, the federal government occasionally pays for unmarked vehicles to transport their inmates. I'm not sure how that works out, but that's one possibility. Maybe a vehicle for an administrator, or something used for a fugitive apprehension team? There are all sorts of possibilities.

USMC,

I see where you are coming from. I think we can both agree that the "gravy" is not the major cause of the potential layoffs in the DOC though, correct? Maybe I'm wrong.

Gate,

Great points. One day we'll all realize that the problems that continue to come up on the board, are problems with poor administration (for the most part), and not one another. Maybe then, the infighting will end.


Posted by: RPD931

Quote:
Originally Posted by JGH_7223
The Legislation approved the 12.5 million according to Worcester Telegram article on 8 December, 2005. Hope this puts some people at ease. JGH
Excellent!!



Posted by: sylvester

Bart and DCS are out of touch with reality on this topic. Gov Romney may be giving the SP a big raise - far more than the municipalities are giving their police officers. He supports the police and correction officers -, the democrats resent us. Gov Romney is the definition of honor- would you rather have some flaming liberal dummycrat instead !!??!? Get real. Dummycrats have a very long track record of pandering to criminals while screwing over taxpayers and those in law enforcement. Ever hear of the Bachman Bill ?? He was a dummycrat. You guys need to look at the big picture. The last thing Gov Romney wants to do is lay off C.O.'s or police. He focuses more on lighting a fire under the career welfare recipients and other traditional dummycrat voters. He wants the dummycrat controlled legislature to fund your jobs as a priority - they would rather have assanine programs for inmates funded instead. They vetoe everything he proposes to make him look bad. Dummycrats are no friend of taxpayers or law enforcement. Their history proves that. Facts are facts.


Posted by: Clouseau

Quote:
Originally Posted by sylvester
. Gov Romney may be giving the SP a big raise - far more than the municipalities are giving their police officers..
I disagree. Don't be fooled by the papers.

I would say the average city/town PD gets an average 3% raise each year. Mine does. {Sometimes more}. The city also cuts us a retro check.

Everyone looks at the papers and sees the state was offered a 19% raise. {Wow}
This is over 5 years. 19% divided by 5 years is 3.8% per year. {Not much more than anyone else}

Now you must consider they aren't cutting the guys a retro check for the time with out a contract.

They offer to pay a little more the first year of the contract {Maybe 5 %}. Big deal, this still doesn't make up for the money owed {Retro}...the money they were collecting interest on..the money the troops could have been collecting interest on.


Posted by: sylvester

we got a 1% and a 2% raise in last contract - things don't look much better this time either...
My point was that Governor Romney is anything but a foe of police and correction officers. They would be disrespected by a guy like Tom Reiley.He is no true friend of ours. Reiley is such a publicity hound that it would not surprise me if he plastered his name on all the DOC and MSP cruisers if he gets elected. like the democrat sheriff of plymouth county did a few years ago..


Posted by: Barbrady

Quote:
Originally Posted by JGH_7223
ROMNEY WARNS OF LAYOFFS IN PRISONS IF BUDGET REQUEST IS NOT APPROVED

By Amy Lambiaso
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
amy.lambiaso@statehousenews.com

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, NOV. 29, 2005…..
In a letter accompanying a new $12.8 million spending request, Romney said rising fuel and medical costs, coupled with a 4 percent increase in the state's inmate population this year, have increased the budgetary needs of the Department of Correction.
And we pay over 42K a year per inmate to house them.


Posted by: BartA1

sylvester,

I dont think I am out of touch with Reality on this topic. What I said was the guys at the DOC do not need to worry about being laid off in addition to all the crap they have to deal with on a day to day basis. My feelings about the esteemed Governor are moot because he is not running in 2006.


Posted by: sylvester

NO Republican will lay off Correction Officers . ALL have a long history of supporting you. It's the flaming liberal Dummycrats that you need to worry about. (Ie:Bachman bill, etc) The democrats are so teary eyed about the misunderstood inmates that you take a second place, oops.. a third place - therapists come before C.O's, to them. I worked in the DOC for several years - long enough to know that any C.O. that is fooled enough to vote for a democrat is a true fool. Democrats are no friend of Police or Correction Officers ... but they are friends to politically appointed depuhacks that contribute to their campaigns..


Posted by: GateKeeper

Hum, just about 2 years without a contract with Romney in office. Thank God he isn't running again because fools who think he is for LE would vote for him!

Not to forget what he has done to the DOC.

$12.8 million to save our jobs! I don't think so. That money will be spent on hiring more managers who don't have a clue on how to run a prison. Trust me, I've seen it before.

Sylvester, being from Corrections how can you say Romney and the Republican party are better suited for the DOC? How long have you been out? Talk to anyone still in?

Read the papers at all? See the anarchy in our prison system? Inmate's killing, raping each other! Assaulting staff left and right. Hostage taking. A total disrespect to the rules and regulations. Spitting and throwing you know what in our face.

Work a current shift in blocks within the now defunct DOC and then try and tell me Romney is for the DOC or LE.


Posted by: GateKeeper

To add a slight, very slight, rebuttal. Past Republican Governors have been truthful to the DOC & LE community. Weld, Cellucci and Swift to name a past few who have never tried to ruin, with out a fight from Unions, the way things are done in this State. As in Weld who tried to privatize some State area's for a short while before he realized Unions have a say in this State. The very same Unions that protect your rights as a working class citizen, trying to make his / her way through these tough times as a City / State employee.

Romney is now the exception, who is hell bent on destroying every Union in this State. Shave a few bucks an hour off of what you are currently making and you will make Romney very happy. He's rich and if he can make a few dollars off of us by putting Mass in the hands of corporate America he'll be even more richer and happier.

Any one that works for this State for free has to make you worry. You get what you pay for!


Posted by: state screw

Simply Put....romney Your A Piece Of Shit!
Don't Let The Door Hit You In The Ass!


Posted by: sylvester

simply put, the dummycrats in the legislature are the ones you should be angry with - they and anyone who votes for them is an ignorant liberal. do you really think reilly would treat you better... no way.


Posted by: KozmoKramer

Sylvester, I have to agree with you...
Although Romney has been no friend of the DOC, and I can clearly see why Corrections Officers are looking for a change; Reilly scares the shit out of me.
A Socialist gov with an inordinately liberal legislature? Forget it.




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