Lawmakers have expressed concern over the fact that the Department of Corrections only has one counselor for 210 inmates and 112 Corrections workers.<\/p>\n
According to Corrections Commissioner Robert A. Guerrero, the expansion of the DOC\u2019s personnel is one of the priorities of his department.<\/p>\n
Guerrero and other DOC officials faced lawmakers on Friday for a budget hearing for the department. The DOC has proposed a budget of $4.6 million, which is slightly higher than the $3.8 million proposed allocation from the government.<\/p>\n
Rep. Joseph \u201cLee Pan\u201d Guerrero (R-Saipan) said one counselor \u201cwon\u2019t work\u201d for the DOC\u2019s 210 inmates, including juveniles.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of these inmates are \u2018old-timers,\u2019 and that at least two counselors should be there,\u201d the lawmaker said.<\/p>\n
He said he \u201cis not satisfied\u201d with the government\u2019s $3.8 million allocation and that the department needs more funding.<\/p>\n
Rep. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) echoed his colleague\u2019s call, saying the government should put more resources to the DOC.<\/p>\n
The Corrections chief said he \u201cunderstands the government\u2019s financial hardships,\u201d which is why his proposed budget is only slightly higher than what was allocated by the government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would, of course, welcome two or three more counselors,\u201d he said, adding that he would want more funds. \u201cBut we would have to live within our means, and still address the issues that we have,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Aside from personnel, Guerrero said the other major concerns are food for the inmates, power, communications, and fuel, among others.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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