Post by Leonitas on Aug 30, 2009 9:49:20 GMT -5
Indiana Department of Correction to relocate girls school
New center in Madison; former Indy facility will house adult offenders.
By ALICIA GALLEGOS
Tribune Staff Writer
A newly announced state plan to swap correctional facilities will soon affect female youth offenders in St. Joseph County — and their families.
The Indiana Department of Correction confirms it is moving around some prison populations into different detention centers to save space and money.
A major component of those plans, according to a release, is moving female youths from the former detention center in Indianapolis to a facility near the current Madison State Hospital in Madison, Ind., in the far southeastern corner of the state.
Douglas Garrison, spokesman for the DOC, explained that a plan called the Facility Forward Initiative was formulated to keep up with growing prison populations and a recent cut in state funding. Money previously existed in the state budget for housing units that would house an additional 2,000 offenders, Garrison said, but that portion was cut from the final General Assembly bill.As part of the DOC's plans, adult female offenders from the Indiana Women's Prison will be relocated to the former Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility, which Garrison said will allow for full-capacity use.
Formerly, the female youth population did not fill the full facility space.
DOC officials also plan to reduce staff at the new Madison facility by 22 teachers, according to Garrison. The reduction will not affect the education or care-taking of the children, he said.
Local juvenile detention officials had mixed reactions to the Indiana Girls School relocation plans.
Bill Bruinsma, executive director of the St. Joseph County Juvenile Justice Center, said he would like to see the plan move forward before voicing an opinion.
Bruinsma added only that he hopes the DOC has the resources to complete the mission.
But St. Joseph County Probate Judge Peter Nemeth said he isn't certain of the entire reasoning behind the move but that visitation for parents will surely be affected.
Madison sits just west of Cincinnati and north of Louisville, Ky. The town is about three hours from Indianapolis and close to six hours from South Bend.
Garrison said DOC officials were aware the move might be burdensome for local friends and family but that the DOC is acting to address those worries. Officials plan to assist with potential travel vans to carry groups of visitors to the new facility from certain areas, he said.
Also, administrators want to expand their video visiting system, which allows for televised visits.
New center in Madison; former Indy facility will house adult offenders.
By ALICIA GALLEGOS
Tribune Staff Writer
A newly announced state plan to swap correctional facilities will soon affect female youth offenders in St. Joseph County — and their families.
The Indiana Department of Correction confirms it is moving around some prison populations into different detention centers to save space and money.
A major component of those plans, according to a release, is moving female youths from the former detention center in Indianapolis to a facility near the current Madison State Hospital in Madison, Ind., in the far southeastern corner of the state.
Douglas Garrison, spokesman for the DOC, explained that a plan called the Facility Forward Initiative was formulated to keep up with growing prison populations and a recent cut in state funding. Money previously existed in the state budget for housing units that would house an additional 2,000 offenders, Garrison said, but that portion was cut from the final General Assembly bill.As part of the DOC's plans, adult female offenders from the Indiana Women's Prison will be relocated to the former Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility, which Garrison said will allow for full-capacity use.
Formerly, the female youth population did not fill the full facility space.
DOC officials also plan to reduce staff at the new Madison facility by 22 teachers, according to Garrison. The reduction will not affect the education or care-taking of the children, he said.
Local juvenile detention officials had mixed reactions to the Indiana Girls School relocation plans.
Bill Bruinsma, executive director of the St. Joseph County Juvenile Justice Center, said he would like to see the plan move forward before voicing an opinion.
Bruinsma added only that he hopes the DOC has the resources to complete the mission.
But St. Joseph County Probate Judge Peter Nemeth said he isn't certain of the entire reasoning behind the move but that visitation for parents will surely be affected.
Madison sits just west of Cincinnati and north of Louisville, Ky. The town is about three hours from Indianapolis and close to six hours from South Bend.
Garrison said DOC officials were aware the move might be burdensome for local friends and family but that the DOC is acting to address those worries. Officials plan to assist with potential travel vans to carry groups of visitors to the new facility from certain areas, he said.
Also, administrators want to expand their video visiting system, which allows for televised visits.