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and design of a facility for 500 offenders.

The need for this facility is even greater today than it was when we initially made the request. Institution overcrowding in the Northeast Region is currently 19 percent. Existing institutions at Danbury, Connecticut and Lewisburg, Pennsylvania are overcrowded by more than 30 percent. In addition, more than 1,400 offenders with legal residence in the Northeast region are now confined in institutions outside the area. We are requesting $21.7 million in fiscal year 1977 to build this urgently needed facility, which will permit us to reduce critical overcrowding at the United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and the Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury, Connecticut, and to move offenders from institutions in other regions who have residence in the area closer to their homes.

The requested institution will provide a safe, humane environment for offenders. A wide variety of program options will be offered including academic and vocational/occupational education, individual and group counseling, career guidance and development of employment skills. Plans also include development of an appropriate industrial project by Federal Prison Industries, Inc.

Initially, we had hoped to locate the institution near New York City and worked closely with local authorities in efforts to locate a suitable site. After extensive surveys, we concluded that sites in or immediately adjacent to New York City were unavailable. We have, however, identified a site in Otisville, New York which is approximately 70 miles from New York City, and New York State officials have declared their intent to sell the property to the Federal Government. The distance between Otisville and New York City is not considered excessive and commerical transportation is readily available.

We are also requesting $16,535,000 to construct the third of the complex of three youth institutions planned in the Southeastern region. The Congress appropriated $2.5 million in 1973 for site acquisition and design of this complex

of facilities.

This institution is designed to serve 400 youthful offenders. between the ages of 18 and 26. In addition to fulfilling the requirement for youthful offenders in the Southeast, the availability of this facility will permit the total conversion of the Federal Correctional Institution at Ashland, Kentucky to an adult institution, an important step in our longer range goal of closing the antiquated Atlanta Penitentiary. The projection of closing Atlanta was partly contingent on our ability to obtain construction funds for this facility in fiscal year 1977. We have obtained a site in Talladega, Alabama and are prepared to commence design and construction if and when construction funds are approved.

Mr. Chairman, the third major thrust of this budget request is in response to critical jail problems in several areas of the country. State and local contract facilities have become non-existent in the Detroit, Michigan area. Federal detainees have been removed from the Wayne County Jail because of severe overcrowding and exorbitant costs. Further, Federal detainees are no longer being accepted at the Oakland County, Michigan Jail because of severe overcrowding in that institution. With no abatement in the detention caseload in the Detroit area, averaging in excess of 100 detainees daily, we have found it necessary to convert a portion of the Federal Correctional Institution at Milan, Michigan to serve as a temporary jail. This represents neither a permanent nor an effective remedy to the problem, primarily because it is located over 40 miles from Detroit, This distance presents problems to the courts, to the defense counsel and to the U. S. Attorneys..

In view of these factors, we are requesting $2.8 million for site acquisition and design of a 300 bed Metropolitan Correctional Center to be located in Detroit,

Michigan. This facility, similar to those recently constructed in San Diego, New York and Chicago, will serve the U. S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan by providing housing for study and observation cases referred by the courts, for persons awaiting trial and sentencing, and for offenders serving short

term sentences.

We are also requesting $2.7 million for site acquisition and design of a Metropolitan Correctional Center of 400 beds to be located in either Phoenix or Tucson, Arizona. Both Phoenix and Tucson are rapidly growing metropolitan

areas with an expanding Federal detention caseload averaging approximately 345 170 in Phoenix and 195 in Tucson. There are few available detention

daily

facilities.

The Federal Detention Center at Florence, Arizona initially designed to house 75 offenders, has been accommodating a daily population averaging 120. Many court-ordered study cases must be transferred to California, Colorado, Texas and Missouri, at added cost and delay. This proposed facility will provide for urgently needed capacity for persons awaiting trial in Arizona, for study cases referred by the courts, and for those offenders who are serving short-term sentences. It is premature at this time to specify the location of this facility. The site will be determined later, after an analysis of Federal detainee caseloads and other pertinent factors.

Mr. Chairman, I have discussed at length the critical need for these four new facilities, which are designed to alleviate the overcrowding in institutions, to permit the eventual closing of antiquated penitentiaries, and finally, to make an effective response to the critical lack of jail capacity for Federal detainees. I consider these to be the most important problems the Bureau faces, and, with the continued support of the Congress we will be able to deal with them effectively. This concludes my formal statement, Mr. Chairman. I would be pleased to answer any questions you and members of the Committee may have.