Alabama prisons eye releases as worst case option

By: Associated Press | Alabama's13.com
Published: December 16, 2009

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's prison commissioner says a
budget shortage of $15 million this year could lead to employee
layoffs, prison closings and inmate releases. But he said he and
the governor are determined to avoid that.
Commissioner Richard Allen did not offer a source of funding as
he outlined his budget problems for legislators Tuesday.
Allen warned lawmakers that federal stimulus funds are providing
nearly 30 percent of the state's prison budget this year, and
lawmakers will need to find a way to make up that $118 million when
they start writing the state General Fund budget for fiscal 2011.
Allen said his department has sold land and timber in recent
years to cover prison maintenance costs, and the department's
options for balancing the budget are exhausted.