by Nick Delgado

Guam - $3.5 million in Compact impact funding heads to the Department of Corrections to help address overcrowded conditions at the Mangilao compound. It's the long-awaited funding from the department of the interior that DepCor has been asking for.

"This extra infusion of cash will help us with operations, help cover food cost, medical other personnel issues," said DOI assistant secretary for insular areas Tony Babauta. He announced the authorization for the $3.5 million to offset the cost of providing inmate housing to Compact of Free Association migrants. Island leaders like the governor, congresswoman and Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz have been raising the issue of the challenges confronting DOC, given the facility's population of FAS citizens.

Although Cruz is thankful for the funding, he says it still doesn't address the problem at hand. He noted, "Actually, the cost to Guam DOC is about $7 million and while $3.5 million is appreciated it doesn't cover the exact cost."

In the meantime, Cruz says he will continue to push the issue to leaders in DC, as he seeks ways to help get DepCor out of its two decade old permanent injunction over civil rights violations because of overcrowding. There are 566 inmates and detainees in doc today, and DepCor spokesperson Lt. Antone Aguon says 28% are FAS citizens. He adds the daily cost to care for the population is also impacted by the economy, saying, "That population is pretty huge."

"Cost of operations have gone up, you are talking about employees pay, gas, water, food, medicine all has go up and right now if you were to ask me we are paying more of $116 a day for what it cost to house somebody."

DepCor's annual budget is just under $20 million, but Aguon says DepCor realistically needs just over $25 million to handle the large population.