The Department of Corrections renewed a contract for educational services at the state’s only women’s prison Tuesday after initial reports that the contract would be cut.
Last week, DOC Commissioner Andy Pallito notified Vermont Works for Women that the $159,000 contract with the group for labor training and other programs at Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility would not be renewed.
However, members of the Legislature and the administration realized that the contract had been cut in a misunderstanding of legislative intent in the budget. The department believed that the budget bill required a cut to contracts for services in prison that overlap with services from the Community High School of Vermont. Ultimately, that cut had been restored in the final budget bill.
Pallito said that the contract had been cut in error, and he had signed a new contract Tuesday morning.
“We have a fully enforced contract with [Vermont Works for Women] and we’re off and running,” Pallito said.
Rep. Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, helped to clarify the error.
“I’m really glad that we could get it sorted out,” Johnson said. “Vermont Works for Women does really amazing work with the corrections population and across a lot of vulnerable populations in the area of employment and empowerment.”
Rachel Jolly, director of women’s programs at Vermont Works for Women, said that the organization is “thrilled” at the news. There had been an outpouring of support from community members, lawmakers, and state employees following the news, she said.
“I think this has enabled us to open up some new conversations with the DOC to look at opportunities around vocational training,” Jolly said.
