by Nick Delgado

Guam - In an effort to reduce the population at the Department of Corrections in Mangilao and save the agency money, Senator Sam Mabini hopes to establish the International Prisoner Transfer Program locally. Bill 306 would establish the program to have foreign nationals of participating countries who are serving sentences on Guam be transferred to their home country to serve the remainder of their sentence.

She adds the program would promote improved operations and safety resulting from the decreased population. "And by implementing something like this where we would be send home foreign nationals, we would be able to save considerably," she explained. "On average, it's about $3,000 per prisoner, per detainee and I know that doesn't include Marshal costs and immigration costs."

Senator Mabini says Guam is one of the few places that isn't part of the program, which includes the CNMI, Puerto Rico, all 50 United States, the Marshall Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia. She adds Guam would be partnering with the criminal division of the U.S. Department of Justice that would help set up procedures and deliver back foreign nationals to their respective detention centers.