Rhode Island news
01:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 26, 2004
Because of their behavior behind bars or the nature of their crimes, some inmates remain in higher-security prisons right up to the day they're released.
So they hit the streets less prepared than minimum-security inmates, who benefit from transitional services and from living in a place more like the real world.
It's a dilemma, Department of Corrections officials say, so they're proposing a "reintegration center" that would help inmates kick addictions, get ready for jobs, and reconnect with family members before walking out the door.
Department of Corrections director A.T. Wall said the plan would put Rhode Island on the cutting edge of a national trend, and Governor Carcieri's proposed 2005 budget contains $132,292 to get the program rolling.
Plans call for opening the 175-bed reintegration center in fall 2006 in the abandoned "J" building at the center of Cranston's Pastore complex. The renovation is expected to cost $13 million, with the federal government covering 90 percent of the cost; a preliminary estimate calls for about $7 million in operational costs.
"We do a good job of building and running prisons, but some day almost every inmate gets out, and with the geography of a small state, they are coming to everybody's backyard, like it or not," Wall said. "So if we really care about public safety, we have an obligation to structure their departure from the ACI."
By Edward Fitzpatrick
| Animal Behaviorist, Christine Johnson | |
| Sweetbriar provides opportunities for Tara Dodson and her daughter Avery | |
| Police seize large quantity of marijuana in Woonsocket |
More top stories
Position on gays shatters union of 2 Methodist churches
Most Viewed Yesterday
The hunt for Stephen Saccoccia’s hidden assets
Vehicle fatalities climb in R.I.
Suspect shot during struggle with undercover officer
Patriots journal: Belichick says Moss is smartest receiver he’s seen
Most active surveys
What's your favorite breakfast/lunch place?
React to Carcieri's veto of R.I.'s first saltwater fishing license
Are the Yankees on the brink of another dynasty?
Will you allow your children to be vaccinated against swine flu? Why or why not?
Is it a bad thing or a good thing that prostitution is legal in Rhode Island, indoors?
Most e-mailed in the last 24 hours
Reader Reaction









You must be logged in to contribute. Log in | Register Now!
You are logged in as screenname | Log Out
You are logged in, but do not have a "screen" name. Create a Screen Name