What is a "correctional budget"?

A correctional budget is fundamentally a comprehensive financial plan that allocates resources to various aspects of the correctional system. This includes funds for facility operations, rehabilitation programs, staffing, security, inmate services, and maintenance of correctional facilities. The purpose of this budget is to ensure that the correctional institution operates efficiently and effectively, meeting the needs of both the inmates and the staff while adhering to legal and ethical standards.

By focusing on the allocation of resources, the correctional budget plays a critical role in determining how funds will be used to maintain public safety, reduce recidivism, and provide necessary services within the correctional environment. It reflects the priorities of the correctional administration and can impact everything from the level of security in facilities to the quality of rehabilitation programs offered to offenders.