The Department of Corrections is asking for an additional $62.8 million for FY15 and authorization to contract for more private prisons to cope with a growing prison population, the Yellow Sheet Report says.
Almost half of the FY15 request, or $30 million, is for an additional 1,500 beds. DOC is expecting the population to grow by 800 prisoners a year until 2017.
Director Charles Ryan recently saif admissions from court sentencing have increased, while releases have decreased and the average length of stay has increased.