Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Associated Press has reported North Charleston prison could be closed.
Because we think this is a very important development we have pasted the entire story hereinbelow.
Staff and wire report
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
COLUMBIA — A minimum security prison in North Charleston would be closed and inmates moved under a budget proposal debated by the state Senate on Tuesday.
The Corrections Department already is running a deficit this year and is facing a $4 million cut in the fiscal year that begins July 1, Sen. Mike Fair said.
The current spending plan being debated by the Senate would affect 110 prison jobs and lead to the closing of the Coastal Pre-Release Center in North Charleston, the Palmer Pre-Release Center in Florence and the Lower Savannah Pre-Release Center in Aiken, the Greenville Republican said.
Coastal Pre-Release at 3765 Leeds Ave. houses non-violent inmates within three years of release, according to the Corrections Department's Web site.
Inmates there have access to adult education, vocational training and drug and alcohol counseling.
The facility provides labor crews to the Berkeley County Water and Sanitation Authority, Charleston County and the city of North Charleston.
A woman at the facility refused to comment Tuesday night.
Prison spokesman Josh Gelinas could not confirm if the agency would have to cut jobs. He said the department can avoid closing prisons if it is allowed to operate with a deficit next fiscal year. The Budget and Control Board would have to sign off for the agency to do that.
Although the Senate gave the spending bill second reading Tuesday, the debate likely will continue through today over challenged budget provisions.
