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Budget committee approves more spending for prison beds

By: Associated Press//May 19, 2015//

Budget committee approves more spending for prison beds

By: Associated Press//May 19, 2015//

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Legislature’s budget committee has approved spending an additional $5 million above previous estimates to pay for housing inmates in the state prison system.

The committee’s action Tuesday was needed because the prison population growth estimates in Gov. Scott Walker’s budget released in February are already outdated for both the state’s female and male prison populations.

According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the state will have to house about 150 more female prisoners and about 800 more male prisoners over the two-year budget than Walker forecast.

The committee approved converting beds at the Sturtevant Transitional Facility for use by long-term male prisoners and contracting for additional beds elsewhere. It did not approve opening a new wing at the women’s prison in Taycheedah for housing female inmates at a vacant juvenile prison.

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