By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

ABOUT 140 inmates will have to wait for another five months before they can transfer to the state-of-the-art correction facility, according to acting Department of Corrections Secretary Lino S. Tenorio.
The delay, he said, is owing to the lack of funds for the transition, specifically funds for additional personnel, new equipment like radios, and to meet other federal requirements as stated in the consent decree — a court-mandated agreement between the CNMI government and the U.S. Department of Justice in 1999.
In order to be certified by the justice department, the facility has to accomplish four components — care, discipline, training and treatment.
During his Senate committee confirmation hearing yesterday, Tenorio revealed that for fiscal year 2007, the department is appropriated $4 million for personnel and operations.
“We need additional manpower in moving to the new facility. At present, we are budgeted to hire only 26 additional employees,” he told Variety, adding that the department will ask for more personnel funds from the Office of Management and Budget.
The department, which is already using part of the facility’s administration building, has a current workforce of 80 — 77 uniformed personnel and three civilian employees.
“The actual transfer of inmates has yet to happen and we may wait for another five months because we’re still working on the requirements and criteria of the consent degree,” he said, adding that a federal inspection needs to be conducted before they can finally move the personnel and inmates.
Tenorio’s nomination is expected to be confirmed by the Senate on Jan. 18.
He was appointed acting secretary of the department two months ago.
“I would like to establish programs for our inmates so they will be ready when they get out — vocational programs that would make them responsible citizens,” he said.
The new correction facility has a capacity of 300-400 inmates and can be expanded to accommodate up to 500.
“That’s a very huge facility and we do not intend to use it entirely — maybe 80 percent to help minimize power usage. What’s important is that we have enough personnel for our inmates. On top of the 26 (full-time employees) we would like to have additional manpower,” he said.
A retired police captain, Tenorio served close to 20 years in law enforcement.