strongernow
05-18-2004, 04:29 PM
State to cut 127 prison counseling jobs
By Andy Peters
Telegraph Staff Writer
ATLANTA - The state prison system is notifying 127 counselors this week that their jobs are being eliminated.
The Department of Corrections is eliminating a quarter of its total number of prison counselors because of the state's budget crunch, said agency spokeswoman Peggy Chapman. Gov. Sonny Perdue directed all state agencies to trim 5 percent from their budgets for next year. The counseling-job cuts will save the Corrections Department about $6.2 million.
The 127 job cuts come just a few months after the agency cut 37 prison counselors from its mid-year fiscal 2004 budget.
Some lawmakers met recently with Corrections Commissioner James Donald to discuss ways to avoid the job cuts.
"There is a lot of concern from prison families and from employees about the loss of these counselors," said Rep. Gerald Greene, D-Cuthbert, chairman of the House committee with oversight of the state's prison system. Greene cited maximum-security prisons in Alto, Pelham and Reidsville as being in acute need of inmate counselors.
The location of the jobs has not yet been disclosed by the state agency, because the counselors are still being informed that their positions are being eliminated, Chapman said.
There are numerous state prisons located in Middle Georgia, including six facilities in Baldwin County, plus Central State Prison on Fulton Road in Macon, Pulaski State Women's Prison in Hawkinsville and Milan State Prison in Telfair County.
The laid-off counselors will be encouraged to apply for one of the 132 other current job vacancies within the state Department of Corrections, Chapman said. While these counselors will be given preference over outside candidates, the new jobs could require the counselors to move to another part of the state.
The Corrections Department has vacancies for the following positions: probation and surveillance officers, mental-health and general population counselors.
The state has been in talks with Macon Mayor Jack Ellis about opening a rehabilitation center for primarily non-violent drug offenders. The four-acre McKenna National Guard Armory on Anthony Road had been under consideration for that center.
By Andy Peters
Telegraph Staff Writer
ATLANTA - The state prison system is notifying 127 counselors this week that their jobs are being eliminated.
The Department of Corrections is eliminating a quarter of its total number of prison counselors because of the state's budget crunch, said agency spokeswoman Peggy Chapman. Gov. Sonny Perdue directed all state agencies to trim 5 percent from their budgets for next year. The counseling-job cuts will save the Corrections Department about $6.2 million.
The 127 job cuts come just a few months after the agency cut 37 prison counselors from its mid-year fiscal 2004 budget.
Some lawmakers met recently with Corrections Commissioner James Donald to discuss ways to avoid the job cuts.
"There is a lot of concern from prison families and from employees about the loss of these counselors," said Rep. Gerald Greene, D-Cuthbert, chairman of the House committee with oversight of the state's prison system. Greene cited maximum-security prisons in Alto, Pelham and Reidsville as being in acute need of inmate counselors.
The location of the jobs has not yet been disclosed by the state agency, because the counselors are still being informed that their positions are being eliminated, Chapman said.
There are numerous state prisons located in Middle Georgia, including six facilities in Baldwin County, plus Central State Prison on Fulton Road in Macon, Pulaski State Women's Prison in Hawkinsville and Milan State Prison in Telfair County.
The laid-off counselors will be encouraged to apply for one of the 132 other current job vacancies within the state Department of Corrections, Chapman said. While these counselors will be given preference over outside candidates, the new jobs could require the counselors to move to another part of the state.
The Corrections Department has vacancies for the following positions: probation and surveillance officers, mental-health and general population counselors.
The state has been in talks with Macon Mayor Jack Ellis about opening a rehabilitation center for primarily non-violent drug offenders. The four-acre McKenna National Guard Armory on Anthony Road had been under consideration for that center.