Montpelier, Vermont - April 24, 2008
Gov. Jim Douglas, R-Vermont, says lawmakers should act this session on a plan to reorganize Vermont's prison system.
The Senate passed a bill that calls for closing the women's prison, shifting prisoners around and releasing some low-risk offenders into the community. The goal is to slow the rate of increase in the corrections budget-- it grows by 10-percent every year. But the House worries the plan moves too fast. They're instead calling for a year of study to examine several options.
"I don't know that further study is going to be particularly useful, I think we ought to make a decision. Whether it's the Senate plan or another one that's been offered by some lawmakers, I think we should move forward and make some of these changes," said Douglas.
A group of representatives and senators will now meet to try to work out a compromise on the prison plan.
Kristin Carlson - WCAX News
