HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Since taking office as director of the Department of Corrections, Fred Bordallo has said the prisons are currently in a “dangerous situation.”
On Thursday afternoon, Bordallo, who was appointed early last month to be the acting DOC director, appeared before the 37th Guam Legislature for a confirmation hearing.
The hearing began with lawmakers hearing testimony of support from former directors including Joseph Carbullido and Tony Lamorena, former Guam congressional delegate Robert Underwood and current Department of Corrections employees.
Bordallo himself also testified and explained some of the goals he has established since being on the job for almost two months now. He said his goals included ensuring there are a sufficient number of officers and ensuring the aging facilities are improved.
However, as senators went down the line asking Bordallo questions in more specific detail about recent issues, the confirmation hearing became something more akin to an oversight hearing, as stated by Sen. Sabina Perez.
‘Dangerous situation’
DOC’s oversight chair in the Legislature, Sen. Chris Barnett, had several questions for Bordallo, often referencing previous hearings earlier this year.
In particular, Barnett asked about the officer-to-inmate ratio being 150 to 850, respectively, and asking if it was “manageable.”
Bordallo said it was dangerous.
“It’s dangerous. When I went down to the Hagåtña lockup and I saw the crowding there and even the warden advised me, ‘you’re going to see four people in a cell,'” Bordallo said, adding that there was a riot last month.
However, Bordallo said, since becoming director he has begun working with the Guam Police Department and Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense to ensure safety.
Additionally, he said, the call-up of 32 recruits by the end of this month, and funding available for two more recruit cycles, will make the situation more comfortable.
Initiatives
Throughout the questioning, Bordallo had several opportunities to discuss efforts he has already put in place in nearly two months since starting the job.
One has been a work-release program to allow inmates to clean up the community while also having time reduced from their sentences.
“I did memorandum of understandings, one went to Department of Public Works and one to Department of Parks and Recreation, because they’ll probably have some work in some of the parks, … besides the highways,” stated Bordallo, who also said inmates are able to get one day off their sentences for 40 hours of work.
Barnett also questioned Bordallo regarding the resignation of Deputy Director Andrew Atoigue and how it affects the organizational chart, which was the first thing Bordallo looked at once he started as director.
Bordallo responded that money used for the deputy director’s salary of $90,000 could go toward paying reserve corrections officers, which was something Bordallo introduced in the Guam Police Department during his time as chief of police.
“For some $90,000, I can get 15 corrections reserve officers and reprogram some of that funding from that salary,” said Bordallo who added the money also could go toward strengthening security around the facilities.
“We could get either three to four armed security officers, … and they can handle part of the perimeter security,” said Bordallo, who discussed problems of contraband being thrown over the fence.
As the confirmation came to a close, Barnett thanked Bordallo for his testimony.
“I think, based on your testimony today, you’ve been very honest and forthcoming and I really, as chair, appreciate that,” Barnett said.
Former Sen. and former Department of Corrections Director Tony Lamorena, center, testifies Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.
Fred Bordallo testifies before the Legislature on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023.
