The Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) current-year savings target is $249 million, reflecting the Governor’s order for a 10.35 percent reduction in projected agency spending.
DOCS is currently expected to achieve $84.1 million of its $249 million spending reduction target. In order to ensure the health and safety of both staff and inmates, the agency will be exempted from achieving their full savings target. DOCS, however, will continue to work toward implementing additional savings actions to achieve a portion of their remaining target.
Major Savings Initiatives
DOCS is already in the process of implementing the following actions to achieve their savings target:
Dormitory consolidations at 17 medium and minimum security correctional facilities and a reduction of inmate community crews ($7.8 million)
Accessing previously unavailable federal funds for incarcerating illegal aliens ($23.6 million)
Shifting construction security costs to capital financing ($24 million)
Reducing the number of inmate work crews that conduct community service projects ($2.4 million)
These actions, plus others, will result in the reduction of approximately 200 correction officer positions through attrition and redeployment. The savings achieved by DOCS will be done through the efficiency of its operations without impacting public safety or security.