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Dan Carden dan.carden@nwi.com, (317) 637-9078
INDIANAPOLIS | House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath warned Thursday that 70 state employees in LaPorte County will lose their jobs if the Indiana Department of Correction closes the Camp Summit youth offender boot camp program.
In a letter sent to Gov. Mike Pence, the Michigan City lawmaker blasted the Republican for his plan to shift the nearly 100 offenders from the state's only military-style rehabilitation center to the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility near Indianapolis next week.
"I can only assume the State Budget Agency and Office of Management and Budget claim that a budget shortfall has involuntarily forced their hand. On the contrary, we have a sizable surplus that has been the subject of boastful press releases from state leaders," Pelath said. "The infinitesimal savings from the closure serve no grand purpose."
Attempts to confirm Camp Summit's closure were referred by a governor's office spokeswoman to the Department of Correction.
Messages left for two DOC officials were not returned. A Camp Summit employee said Superintendent Cecil Davis was not available.
Pelath said in addition to the 70 jobs that would be saved, Camp Summit deserves to remain open, because it provides youthful offenders the chance to resume their educations, receive counseling and gain the skills needed to succeed in society.
"This decision would be particularly crazy, because the state is shuttering a program that has a demonstrated impact in turning around the lives of troubled youths," Pelath said.
At the same time, Pelath said he's not surprised the Pence administration is putting money ahead of Hoosiers' lives.
"They only care about one thing: $2 billion in the bank. The havoc they wreak on schools, kids and our health to get to that figure seemingly means little to them," Pelath said.
Camp Summit is a medium-security facility for teenage males located between Michigan City and LaPorte. The camp opened in 1995.
Its 22-week boot camp-style program is designed to transform juvenile delinquents into productive citizens by instilling discipline, self-confidence and individual responsibility.
INDIANAPOLIS | House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath warned Thursday that 70 state employees in LaPorte County will lose their jobs if the Indiana Department of Correction closes the Camp Summit youth offender boot camp program.
In a letter sent to Gov. Mike Pence, the Michigan City lawmaker blasted the Republican for his plan to shift the nearly 100 offenders from the state's only military-style rehabilitation center to the Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility near Indianapolis next week.
"I can only assume the State Budget Agency and Office of Management and Budget claim that a budget shortfall has involuntarily forced their hand. On the contrary, we have a sizable surplus that has been the subject of boastful press releases from state leaders," Pelath said. "The infinitesimal savings from the closure serve no grand purpose."
Attempts to confirm Camp Summit's closure were referred by a governor's office spokeswoman to the Department of Correction.
Messages left for two DOC officials were not returned. A Camp Summit employee said Superintendent Cecil Davis was not available.
Pelath said in addition to the 70 jobs that would be saved, Camp Summit deserves to remain open, because it provides youthful offenders the chance to resume their educations, receive counseling and gain the skills needed to succeed in society.
"This decision would be particularly crazy, because the state is shuttering a program that has a demonstrated impact in turning around the lives of troubled youths," Pelath said.
At the same time, Pelath said he's not surprised the Pence administration is putting money ahead of Hoosiers' lives.
"They only care about one thing: $2 billion in the bank. The havoc they wreak on schools, kids and our health to get to that figure seemingly means little to them," Pelath said.
Camp Summit is a medium-security facility for teenage males located between Michigan City and LaPorte. The camp opened in 1995.
Its 22-week boot camp-style program is designed to transform juvenile delinquents into productive citizens by instilling discipline, self-confidence and individual responsibility.