SC Might Release Inmates Early to Cut Budget

South Carolina's budget problems could force the state Department of Corrections to close some prisons and release thousands of inmates early.

In a memorandum to the chairman of the SC House Ways and Means Committee, Corrections director Jon Ozmint says he and the department are not advocating the plan. But legislative budget staff asked the agency for recommendations about how it could cut the budget. "For this reason only, we are submitting this response. In doing so, we are compelled to put forth the safest avenue to make the drastic and inherently dangerous cuts that budget writers and lawmakers may force upon this agency," the memorandum says.

The proposal would close four prisons--one minimum security, two medium security prisons and one maximum security. Closing the four would account for a reduction of about 3,400 inmates. The inmates who would be released would be those about to be released within one to six months anyway. "Basically, inmates would be released in the same order, only earlier," according to the memo.

The cost of running the four prisons for this fiscal year is about $36 million.

The only other option, which Ozmint says would be even more dangerous than releasing inmates early, would be to eliminate some or all programs within the department. He says doing that would jeopardize the safety of staff and inmates, and would likely lead to federal lawsuits. All local jail inspections would be eliminated, along with all classroom programs and addiction treatment. All prisoner services and even visitation and chaplain programs might also be eliminated.

The memo says, "Implementation of most of these cuts will create inmate idleness, hopelessness and anger. Most of these cuts will decrease the number of employees inside the walls of our prisons. This will result in an increase in inmate assaults on inmates, inmate assaults on employees, escape attempts, homicides, suicides and hostage takings and riots."

For that reason, and because that option would not save as much money, the department says closing prisons and releasing inmates early is a better option. But it's not advocating either option, saying lawmakers should allow the agency to run a budget deficit instead. "We were answering their question, 'How would you shave $34 million off of your budget?' And in order to get to that, it would entail us closing four prisons," Ozmint says.

But he wants it to be clear that it's not something he's recommending or advocating. "We think the best option is not early releases but to fund the Department of Corrections, and for six years we've been saying that," he says.