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Work release center on the chopping block
Sheriff tells court the money to support facility has evaporated

By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Thursday, February 26, 2009 10:43 AM PST

State budget cuts are making an impact on community corrections around Oregon, including the Malheur County Corrections Center seen here in Ontario.

VALE �” Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz announced Wednesday the work release center portion of the Malheur County Corrections Center in Ontario will be closed next month, and seven employees will be laid off.

Bentz said he could not wait any longer for final state budget reduction figures to be confirmed before acting.

Several state agencies have already issued proposals to slash budgets, and one crucial idea centers on a plan to eliminate $12 million in grants to counties for community corrections.

Addressing the Malheur County Court Wednesday, Bentz said the amount that Malheur County Community Corrections needs to cut between now and June 30 is about $154,000.

“It is really a guessing game, Bentz said.


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Plans call for the mothballing of the work release center, he said, but keeping parole and probation.

“It keeps a work crew, Friday through Monday, and the alternative workcrews, Monday through Friday,” Bentz said.

If Bentz’s plan is carried out, the work release center will close March 15.

Bentz said officials simply have little choice now regarding what to slash. There is no place in the county to make those cuts, he said.

“We don’t know what Salem will do for the next biennium,” he said.

Besides having no money to operate the work release center, the jobs that inmates used to work at around the community have disappeared, and there is room in the jail, Bentz said. Bentz said it is now time reevaluate a plan to turn the county’s parole and probation program back to the state.

“We need to discuss the opt out,” he said.

The current correction building, situated on Southwest Fourth Street, would also revert to the state, he said.

However, Bentz said, in his view, turning the building back over to the state would be a bad move for the county.

Other proposed changes in the public safety budget include a delay in a program to hire 39 Oregon State Police troopers until the new biennium.

Oregon Youth Authority’s detention center at Burns is also up for closure, along with eight minimum security prisons and one medium-custody prison. In talking with Department of Corrections Director Max Williams, Rep. Cliff Bentz said he learned the minimum security facility at Snake River Correctional Institution is not one of the facilities slated for closure.

What should be cut in state infrastructure? Have an opinion? Go to www.argusobserver.com and log an opinion on our blogs.

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Comment Blog - Note: All Comments Subject To Approval

not the only corrupt place in the county wrote on Mar 12, 2009 1:31 PM:

" For all of you who think this corrupt place deserves to close, well you are right, most of you would not believe what went on at that place, it was full of big shots trying to look tough, however now the focus can go to the other corrupt agencies in the county, because even the jail staff has been know to take things a step to far, Forget all the rumors, just the facts alone, How many times does a staff member have to have something going in the kitchen before it ends. This has been going on for years and maybe it is better know, but chances are it will never really end, No one place is immune from corruption or using their status to get what they want. Some of the people in the Work Release Center where better people then the employees... "

Ty wrote on Mar 11, 2009 12:05 PM:

" I think the County or the State should use this building and the beds in it to help transition persons coming out of jail or prison. This would give them a chance to help them to find employment and living space. Throwing people out on the the streets without hope doesn't do anyone any good. True they messed up, but some of these people have no family to help them to become productive in our community. "

JIM P. wrote on Mar 2, 2009 10:56 AM:

" OFCOURSE SOME WOULD AGREE THAT THIS CLOSURE IS A TRAGEDY.. BUT FOR MOST PEOPLE IT WAS A DRAIN ON OUR BUDGET. HENCE IT SHUT DOWN..LOL! AND EVEN SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE WERE NOT LAW ABIDING CITIZENS. SO, I WOULD SAY THAT REHABILITATION IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY NOT LET THEM WORK. THEIR FAMILIES SUFFER FOR THEIR MISTAKES. AND IF THEY ARE A GOOD ENOUGH EMPLOYEE, THEIR BOSS WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM HIRING THEM BACK. "

SV wrote on Mar 2, 2009 9:08 AM:

" Any Business shutting down right now is devestating. The WRC did many great things for all of us. I think it is a tragedy. Many people got jobs who put forth the effort to find a job. Yes some did lounge around but they went back to jail. Others still have jobs that they got when the WRC was around. When you get hit by a drunk driver or a child molested just think the WRC staff helped keep track of them. I feel bad for the staff that lost their jobs. Poor MALHEUR COUNTY. "

A wrote on Mar 2, 2009 12:23 AM:

" Maybe if a person wants to keep their "good job" they shouldn't drive around drunk then. "

J wrote on Feb 28, 2009 1:26 PM:

" Just so all you closed minded people know and realize just what the work release center did. It helped people who made a mistake in life have a chance at keeping their good job. I knew someone who got put in jail 1st offense for driving drunk. This person would have lost their job at a potato plant here in Ontario if the WRC wasn't around. They paid their fee and kept the rest for his family. You all are just stupid. A lot of good people worked there. I'm sad for its closing. The county lost a valuable resource. "

When Dennis Is Gone wrote on Feb 27, 2009 6:29 PM:

" Looking for the money spent-look back at the old director and some of the stuff he took home.

looking back is why the dumb idiots in Ontario never pass a measure here. Quit looking back. That is past. "

jb wrote on Feb 27, 2009 10:09 AM:

" It is about time-the work center never did pay for itself and has used taxpayer money to operate from the day the doors opened. It was just a place to lounge around and take it easy.
Looking for the money spent-look back at the old director and some of the stuff he took home. "

To Jim P. wrote on Feb 27, 2009 8:27 AM:

" I couldn't say it better myself. This is probably the best thing that's happened to this county in a very long awhile. "

Amazing wrote on Feb 27, 2009 6:20 AM:

" This thing has been running just fine for the last ten years, the sheriff takes over and in three months it is bankrupt. "

patron wrote on Feb 26, 2009 8:43 PM:

" Start moving the books in. Since the County is so hopped up on giving the library a building, put up or shut up. "

JIM P. wrote on Feb 26, 2009 2:21 PM:

" WELL NOW MAYBE THE JUDGES THAT OWN/OPERATE/SENTENCE PEOPLE HERE WILL QUIT LINING THEIR POCKETS WITH $999/MO PAYMENTS.. BUMMER.. "

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