On July 9 the federal Bureau of Prisons began a 30-day hiring freeze that could lead to layoffs next year unless the agency can find some other way to close a budget shortfall that could total $500 million next year. BOP director Harley G. Lappin announced the freeze earlier this month and in June outlined the possibility of layoffs to the leaders of the American Federation of Government Employees Council of Prison Locals, the union that represents nearly 20,000 BOP employees.
The BOP, currently operating with a $4.4 billion annual budget, has faced a widening fiscal gap over the last two years and has struggled to keep up with the growing federal prison population – growth apparently driven by an increase in drug-related prosecutions. Indeed, the BOP currently houses nearly 178,000 inmates, 54% serving time for drug offenses. In 1980 the agency housed just 24,000 inmates, 16% serving time for drug offenses.
According to The Washington Post, Lappin told union leaders that it was his “sincere desire” to avoid layoffs, but that the “reality is that if our continuing efforts [at cost-saving] are unsuccessful … the agency will have no choice but to complete a formal reduction in force.”
In other Weed Watch news: The Marijuana Policy Project of Montana scored a victory July 16 when over 25,000 signatures seeking inclusion of a medical marijuana ballot initiative were certified by the Montana Secretary of State’s office. The initiative, I-148, would allow medi-pot patients to grow, possess, and use marijuana for medical purposes and would protect patients, their doctors, and other caregivers from arrest or prosecution.
This article appears in July 23 • 2004.