Associated Press
MADISON — The Legislature’s finance committee is set to decide whether to reduce prison tower staffing during the middle of the night.
Gov. Scott Walker’s budget calls for saving about $6.2 million over the next two fiscal years by reducing third-shift tower staffing by 60 positions. Department of Corrections officials say anyone currently filling those positions would be moved into other vacancies.
DOC officials say there’s been only two inmate escape attempts during third shift over the last 20 years. They say they can maintain third-shift security using technology and perimeter patrols instead of fully staffing the towers.
The finance committee is expected to vote today on whether to keep the provision in the budget, tweak it or delete it.