9-19-13 corrections spending

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Legislature's budget committee has approved sending more than $5 million to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections to spend on information technology and a new office of special investigations.  The Joint Finance Committee voted Wednesday on two separate spending requests.  The Department of Corrections intends to spend $4.3 million and hire 36 people to meet what the department says are critical information technology needs. Work they would do includes upgrading computer software, remove and replace outdated systems, and provide technical support for the department's offender records.  The second request approved gives the department $936,000 to pay for a new office charged with investigation allegations of misconduct by staff or inmates and determine appropriate action.