Bill aims to support funding for new Guam prison

Sen. Joe S. San Agustin has introduced Bill No. 234-37 (COR) to increase annual funding to the Guam Department of Corrections from $5 million to $15 million, by amending Public Law 36-57, which outlines the Department of Corrections Modernization Act of 2021.

The act was passed in the 36th Guam Legislature (and also introduced by San Agustin) to address issues of overcrowding and structural failures at DOC, according to a Jan. 30 release from San Agustin’s office.

The senator told the Journal that the funding is intended as seed money so that bond funding can be borrowed to construct a new prison, which will cost more than DOC can borrow from the federal government.

Construction costs for prisons have specifically increased, according to Journal files.  

Bill 234-37 is co-sponsored by Vice Speaker Tina Muña Barnes, Senator Roy A. B. Quinata, and Senator Dwayne T. D. San Nicolas.

San Agustin said he hopes all his colleagues in the legislature will pass the bill, which is solution oriented. The senator said DOC should move quickly to expedite the loan. “If you have the ability to do something, do something.” 

RFPs are due Feb. 5 to the Guam Department of Public Works for design on a new prison, after multiple delays to the due date since September.

See “Jail house will rock,” in the Nov. 6 issue of the Journal, and online at www.mbjguam.com. See the “Construction update” of Nov. 22 at www.mbjguam.com. mbj