Inmates in Wyoming jails may begin to boost their bank accounts. This account from the AP:
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday recommended unanimously a bill that would put 10% of an inmate’s earnings in a savings account. Inmates would receive the money upon release. Rawlins Democrat George Bagby sponsored the legislation. He says inmates earn between $20 and $160 a month doing everything from washing dishes to driving heavy equipment. Inmates spend earnings on things like child support payments and personal items at the prison canteens. Bagby says newly released inmates are often practically penniless. He says the savings might give them an advantage when they begin a life outside of jail. The bill now moves to the Senate floor.
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- Prison populations in England & Wales are “out of control“, say reform groups; more than 10,000 over capacity.
- New superintendents for Coyote Ridge and Walla Walla Prisons in Washington State.
- Three top officials at CDCR have resigned their positions, two to work for the medical Receiver.
- Alabama’s DOC continues to sell land to raise operational revenues.
- Dallas County TX is considering charging bed-and-board to inmates.
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The Missouri Department of Corrections is providing former prisoners with debit cards instead of cash when they’re released from prison.
The Missouri Department of Corrections used to give prisoners cash for amounts less than $200 in their prison accounts at the time of their release, and checks for amounts more than $200. Spokesperson Brian Hauswirth says the program allows offenders to re-enter the general population and have immediate access to money. “When they leave prison they don’t have to worry about locating a place to cash checks, they don’t have to worry about absorbing check-cashing fees. They’ll be able to recover their funds if the card is lost or stolen.”
Hauswirth says the program also cut downs on Department expenses because employees no longer have to drive to Jefferson City to get money for released prisoners. “That’s almost a full-time job just coming to and from this building to pick up cash or to transport it to back to the institutions. And this is going to allow those folks to be more efficient and to get other work done as well. And, not only that, it’s going to save them money in terms of vehicle use and also in terms of gas prices.”
Three Missouri prisons now issue the debit cards. Hauswirth says all the state’s prisons will be using them by June.
Syscon and Western Union offer a similar service.
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Pennsylvania DOC adopts national incident standards in all prisons. A new community corrections facility is planned for Montrose CO. Montana DOC has issued an RFP for Trust & Commissary — Jan will be circulating docs as required.
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Map dispute delays electronic monitoring in Jamaica. In England, they are seriously considering EM for old folks! Missouri collects $780,00 from inmate reimbursement in 2007. Uintah County UT plans $50m expansion to triple beds. In New Zealand, the DOC is accused of spending millions on consultants.
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