PROVIDENCE — Dozens of new inmates slept on mattresses on the floor of the Intake Service Center over the weekend as the state prison’s population soared to an all-time high of 3,881.

The continuing rise in the census compounds a vexing budget deficit that already has state decision makers struggling to find ways to reduce the inmate population by 500 to save about $4 million next fiscal year.

Asked yesterday whether the record-breaking trend might force decision makers to consider removing more than 500 inmates from the prison, Corrections Director A.T. Wall said: “I think it will all depend on what choices our elected leadership make. … It’s a question of how much [money they] are they willing to appropriate for corrections.”

Representatives of the criminal-justice system have been meeting for weeks now trying to reach a consensus on how to drop the inmate population by 500. They are considering several options suggested by consultants with the Council of State Governments.

Among them: increase the number of criminals on home confinement; relax parole guidelines so more criminals are eligible for release; divert more convicts from prison to alcohol- and drug-treatment programs. And give convicts more opportunity to earn more days of “good time” each month that are then shaved off their sentences.

With about a month left in the General Assembly session, no final decisions have been made. What is clear is the population rise “is wreaking havoc” within the Adult Correctional Institutions, said Wall.

“It’s putting a strain on every aspect of the operation. We have to open housing areas that would otherwise remain closed and pay overtime [to correctional officers] to maintain order and to supervise the population.”

A large number of inmates also translates into more sick inmates needing medical attention, more inmates preparing to go to court each day, more meals and clothing necessary to feed and care for them and fewer available seats in required inmate programs such as drug treatment. “And those inmates who haven’t completed the programs don’t receive parole,” said Wall.

Despite the added stress, Wall said the prison remains safe.

“We are adding the staff as needed to continue to run a safe and secure institution regardless of this soaring census. All of our staff … is working very, very hard and maintaining the utmost professionalism through this crunch. If that weren’t true, you would be hearing much more about us.”

The department’s budget of $162.4 million for this fiscal year was based on an average daily inmate population of 3,375, Wall has said. But the daily population had surged to more than 3,768, the highest in the department’s history.

The department had asked for $189 million for next fiscal year, based on an inmate population projection of 3,789. But Governor Carcieri said the department’s budget could only afford an inmate population of 3,289, requiring the removal of at least 500 inmates.

The ACI has an “operational” capacity of 3,892. Under a federal court agreement, corrections officials can house another 193 inmates if they use every single bed, including those in infirmaries and solitary confinement.

The pressure from Sunday evening’s record of 3,881, was alleviated somewhat by Monday afternoon, when dozens of those newly arrested suspects were released on bail during court proceedings. It will likely rise again come the weekend when all those arrested around the state are brought to the Intake Center to await court appearances next Monday.

Wall said he is looking at alternatives to having the suspects sleep on mattresses in the processing center. One of the options: use the vacant infirmary beds in the medium security facility.

tmooney@projo.com