As budget negotiations are wrapping up this week, senators briefly discussed the issue of using about $12.5 million in monthly fees paid by parolees for new computer equipment at the state Department of Corrections.

The funding would pay for two projects at the department: $10 million for a revamped database that stores inmate information and $2.5 million for tablet PCs for parole officers.

The money comes from the inmate revolving fund, which is paid into by parolees and earmarked for their treatment. Parolees are required to pay $30 a month while they are on parole.

Today, Sen. Rita Days, D-Bel-Nor, expressed concern about the budget item.

“We want to make sure that the programs for the people who are on probation are not jeopardized,” she said. The revolving fund “is to be used for them. What do the computers do to help them?”

Sen. Gary Nodler, the Senate budget czar, said the computers “indirectly” benefit parolees by increasing the efficiency of parole officers, thus giving them more time out in the field.

Officials at the corrections department have also called for a new database – the old “green screen” system hails from the ’80s and does not have reliable tech support.

Parolee advocates say the computers only marginally help inmates and should be paid for with general state funding because it helps the department as a whole.

Days said she supports further oversight of the computer projects, in order to measure the efficiency gains at the corrections department.

Both the House and the Senate today approved this portion of the budget. Work continues on the rest of the nearly $23 billion spending plan. Legislators must wrap up the budget by Friday.

(For a previous story we ran on the topic, click here.)