TURTLECREEK TWP. — A state cost-cutting move will shut down part of a prison outside of Lebanon.

        Warren Correctional Institution (WCI), one of two prisons on Ohio 63, was ordered Friday to close one housing unit that includes 128 cells to help trim $49.6 million from the correction department's 2003 budget.

PRISON CUTS

The director of the state prison system on Friday announced he is closing housing units at four prisons and eliminating 56 jobs to address a $50 million budget cut.    The prisons and the job cuts: Warren Correctional Institution, Lebanon     • Beds eliminated: 128     • Job cuts: 24 Allen Correctional Institution, Lima     • Beds eliminated: 248     • Job cuts: 12 Marion Correctional Institution     • Beds eliminated: 66     • Job cuts: 6 North Central Correctional Institution, Marion     • Beds eliminated: 224     • Job cuts: 14     Source: Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

        It was among four prisons told to trim back a total of 660 cells and 56 staff positions, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in Columbus (ODRC).

        Director Reginald A. Wilkinson unveiled the plan Friday, saying it was a way to meet state-mandated budget cuts.

        WCI Warden Wanza Jackson said she didn't expect the cell reduction to have a serious effect on operation.

        The prison opened in 1987 with capacity for 1,200 prisoners and had an inmate population of 1,108 on Friday.

        “It means everybody is double-bunking,” she said.

        Other prisons affected by cuts include North Central Correctional Institution, Allen Correctional Institution and Marion Correctional Institution.

        WCI also was told to cut 24 corrections positions, but Ms. Jackson said she doesn't foresee layoffs because 23 positions already are vacant because of retirements and an agency-wide hiring freeze.

        The budget cuts already have created a shift in local prison staff. Ms. Jackson took over at WCI on Monday after former Warden Anthony Brigano was moved to neighboring Lebanon Correctional Institution (LCI) to replace Harry Russell.

        Mr. Russell, warden at LCI since 1994, was among 560 corrections employees to accept early-retirement buyouts.

        Mr. Wilkinson said many of the budget-cutting steps taken in the past 18 months will continue into next year. Since January 2001, the agency has reduced its payroll by 1,849 employees, including 80 positions in the central office, 119 in Adult Parole Authority and 1,650 in the prisons, he said.

        At the same time, ODRC eliminated 3,024 inmate beds, including more than 1,600 when it closed Orient Correctional Institution in April.

        The state corrections system, with 33 prisons housing more than 44,000 inmates, currently is running at 123 percent of capacity, ODRC spokeswoman Andrea Dean said.
       

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