Budget Cuts To Criminal Justice Resource Center Approved

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Legislative leaders reduce the spending authority of the Criminal Justice Resource Center by about 12%.<br/><br/>Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee

Wednesday, August 22nd 2007, 8:41 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Legislative leaders reduce the spending authority of the Criminal Justice Resource Center by about 12%.

Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee and House Speaker Lance Cargill approved a more than $80,500 cut to the Criminal Justice Resource Center's $670,000 appropriation.

Coffee says the reduction is structured in a way that no full-time employees will lose their jobs or face pay cuts.

Director K.C. Moon says things will be very, very tight budget-wise, but his staff will do the work required by state law. The agency also receives money from fees and federal grants.

The agency is the research arm of the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission and employs 22 people.

Hartshorne state Senator Richard Lerblance, who chairs the sentencing commission, says some lawmakers have "political differences" with the agency's analysis of statistics showing a gap between the number prisoners and how much money is appropriated for prison bed space.