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lasier now.
But in spite of the Department of Corrections biennial budget of nearly $500 million, the department is operating on a figurative shoestring.
Over 1,000 state prisoners are still lodged in local jails because there is no room for them in state institutions. It costs $13,000 per year to keep an inmate in confinement, and $55,000 to build a modern prison cell.
Horrendous costs? To be sure.
But these are the realities with which the corrections department has to deal.
Last year Gov. Robb ordered a 5 percent reduction in the spending levels of state agencies, including the penal system. That blow was dutifully absorbed by Corrections Director Raymond Procunier and his staff.
But in the just-completed legislative session, the lawmkers laid on an additional $3.9 million slash in funds already appropriated for the department. During an interview last week, Mr. Procunier viewed the most recent development with alarm.
“This time,” said Mr. Procunier, “we are going to have to cut into the meat, into the muscle of the department. We are looking to cut back on maintenance, operations and equipment. And now we are going to have to look at cutting back on essential personnel.
“It could be very dangerous,” he said, “and it is certainly very serious. Within the next few weeks I’ll have a better idea of whether or not we’re going to be able to make those cuts and still maintain a respectable prison system.”
Mr. Procunier said he was more concerned about the problem facing him than he had been about any crisis in his 35-year career as a corrections official.
“This may put us beyond the breaking point,” he said.
Beyond that point lies lowered morale among both prison personnel and inmates, loss of control, escape attempts and prison unrest, to say nothing of added risks to the health and safety of both prisoners and guards.
The General Assembly, at the prompting of the governor and the attorney general, eagerly grasped this opportunity to adopt a tough “law ‘n’ order” stance. That posture is always safe when an election year rolls around.
The trouble is if such a stance is to be anything more than mere posturing, it must cost money. But the thought of raising new money - which is to say new taxes - even for “law ‘n’ order” sends a chill of terror down the collective legislative spine in an election year.
It all comes down to an immutable fact of Virginia political life. When it comes to cracking down on crime, the lawmakers can act and sound as tough as Attila the Hun.
, But when it comes to levying the taxes to pay for the crackdown, they also can be wimps.
96.9%