Iowa Department of Corrections to suspend services at 4 facilities

DES MOINES - The leader of Iowa's prison system on Wednesday announced a plan to suspend services at four facilities in order to reduce the Department of Corrections' fiscal year 2017 budget by $5.5 million.

Jerry Bartruff, DOC director, said the changes are required by law and impact facilities in Harpers Ferry, Clarinda, Fort Madison and Sheldon.

'The department has been studying the best way to implement these adjustments for weeks,” Bartruff said in a release. 'We've worked collaboratively with all institutions and community based corrections districts to identify the most strategic way to implement these changes.”

No prisons will be closed, Bartruff said.

The department is suspending services in the following units:

l Luster Heights, a state prison camp near Harpers Ferry.

l Lodge Unit at Clarinda Correctional Facility.

l John Bennett Unit at Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison.

l Sheldon Residential Treatment Facility.

The cuts comply with legislation that is expected to reduce staff positions by 3 percent.

Department officials have begun to notify staff across the state who might be affected by the cuts, Bartruff said, and many will have an opportunity to work in other units or institutions.

Lettie Prell, DOC director of research, said Wednesday she cannot give an exact number of how many staff members the cuts affect because officials need to factor in upcoming retirements and staff attrition.

'Staff reductions will come from unfilled positions, probationary staff and a combination of union and non-union staff,” Prell said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com