Edwin Propst
HOUSE Floor Leader Ed Propst has expressed his support for the direction that Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres is taking regarding the proposal to transfer inmates from Guam to Saipan.
In his remarks during the miscellaneous portion of the House session on Thursday, Propst said he and other legislators met with Torres on Wednesday about the controversial proposal.
“What I truly appreciate is the fact that we have a commissioner who is thinking outside the box,” Propst said, adding that he sees how an inmate-transfer program could benefit the CNMI.
“I do understand the merits of it,” Propst said. “I do understand how it could seriously help financially this Commonwealth and the Department of Corrections.”
Funding is a “serious problem” in the CNMI, he added.
Torres has said that if Guam paid $120 per inmate per day, and transferred over 100 inmates, the CNMI could generate over $4.3 million in revenue each year.
He also said that the CNMI corrections facility has space to fit a total of 500 inmates, but currently only houses fewer than 200.
Torres told Variety earlier this week that he would only allow non-violent, relatively healthy prisoners to take part in the transfer program.
In an interview after the House session, Propst reiterated that the Department of Corrections needs revenue.
“If we don’t get [more revenue] they [will] continue to go underfunded,” Propst said.
“We have to provide all the services to our constituents…with less money, and we’ve been able to manage. Everybody is hurting. At least this commissioner is coming up with fresh ideas,” he added.
Propst acknowledged that some community members worry that the program could result in Guam inmates moving into the CNMI. However, he said that’s not going to happen.
“There are no plans to release a bunch of new prisoners out into the Commonwealth once they serve their term,” he said. “Parole will take care of that and the agreement that will be set will be that the parole will happen in Guam, where they’re originally from.”
Propst hopes that the community keeps an open mind about the proposal.
”Let’s look into the possibilities before we just so quickly say no to it,” he added.
