Government

Lawmakers Float Off-Island Inmate Transfers to Cut Skyrocketing Local Housing Costs

During the V.I. Bureau of Corrections' FY2026 budget request before the Senate on Wednesday, a pressing question emerged: should the Virgin Islands consider relocating more inmates to mainland facilities to curb rising costs? With the daily expense of housing a local inmate more than triple that of stateside detention, some lawmakers are now openly questioning whether fiscal realities should outweigh long-standing concerns about family separation and rehabilitation. At the heart of the conversation was BOC’s $37.7 million general fund budget request, with an additional $1.6 million anticipated through federal grants. The budget includes $15.6 million for personnel costs and $6.6 million for fringe benefits, covering 222 positions—of which 61 remain vacant. Another $13 million is allocated for “other services,” while $1.9 million is earmarked for supplies and $600,000 for utilities. Director Wynnie Testamark described the request as a “strategic investment in safety, rehabilitation an...