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Moffitt Concerned About Budget Cuts to Prisons
An area of state operations that one of the area's representatives in Springfield says is woefully understaffed already is getting cut again under the power of Governor Pat Quinn, and he's not too happy about it.

Gilson Republican State Representative Don Moffitt says he's not happy about $125 million in cuts to the Corrections Department budget Quinn made Friday -- in part, because it would mean not only even less staff at state prisons, it could also mean some of the state's 45,000 prisoners would be let go before their sentences are up.

Moffitt tells WGIL even though it's believed that non-violent offenders with less than a year to go would be let out, that could still present a dangerous problem.

"If that is carried out," Moffitt said, "all it would take is that one early release would commit a very serious crime, and there will be a huge outcry. It will show that it's not a good thing. I hope it does not come to that. I do not support early release."

Moffitt says he knows that most law enforcement officials in his district are concerned about the possibility of early release, too.

Moffitt believes it's not the sort of thing that the Governor wants to do, but may be forced to do.

Moffitt says he's also disappointed in the fact that some of the state's bills still won't get paid, and that education funding has been cut as well.
07 31 09 by Newsroom
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