Much is written, at every opportunity, about budget cuts and the resulting problems at the Department of Corrections. We have had a difficult stretch of budget years, and this coming year will also see our agency run a deficit, albeit a much smaller deficit. But in education and programming, great things are happening.

While we at Corrections are grateful that our assault rates and escape statistics are better than last year, security is not all we do. In all cases, our success is due to thousands of dedicated employees and their willingness to change and adapt.

Educational opportunities for inmates are on the rise. In July 2003, our budget problems forced a cut in this area. Twelve months later, we are on course to have as many inmates complete their GEDs as we did before the cuts. By using a nationwide, satellite-based corrections education network, allowing inmates to tutor others and partnering with local school districts, our cost per successful GED completion will be one-half of the cost before these cuts were made, proving that money is not always the solution.

Several institutions where educational cuts were made now have more inmates in class and more classes than were offered before the cuts. And we are making plans to hire part-time instructors to provide more vocational training for inmates.

However, even in the area of vocational and job training, we have already made progress.

First, our prison industries and farm operations have expanded over the past year. More than 250 additional inmates are working in those areas compared to 12 months ago.

Our gristmill already is operational, and inmate construction crews at our MacDougall Farm soon will complete the first of three laying houses for our new 120,000-bird, egg-laying operation. These two operations alone will save more than $1 million annually and employ dozens of inmates.

Next year, we will continue to pursue greater efficiency by seeking to expand our dairy operation. Savings from this will allow us to improve our food quality and continue to provide milk for our 24,000 inmates and for all juveniles under the care of the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Second, in partnership with Greenville Tech and the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the first 15 inmates have completed the “behind the fence” classroom portion of our new Self Paced In-Class Education program. This program combines video-based vocational class work with faith-based or self-improvement accountability. A new class is already under way.

Third, we are beginning construction of our new Thoroughbred Retirement Vocational Training facility at our Wateree Prison Farm. Using materials paid for entirely by donated funds, inmate crews are constructing the barn, classroom, fencing, paddocks and run-in sheds.

This program will rescue retired thoroughbred horses from an otherwise awful post-racing existence while also providing valuable job skills for inmates.

Finally, using a federal grant, we have hired six re-entry coordinators across the state. These counselors provide training and community contact coordination for inmates completing sentences.

We have expanded opportunities for inmates to participate in residential addictions treatment. And we have increased the number of beds dedicated to our shock incarceration program, or “boot camp,” for young offenders. We are working with our judiciary to ensure that Circuit Court judges understand this type of sentence and know these beds are available.

We still have problems. When funding will allow, we need to open another addictions treatment unit. We continue to struggle with high officer turnover and rising medical costs. We have made the Legislature aware that our officer pay is thousands below the Southeastern average, and we are currently examining privatization of health services. We look forward to improvements on both of these major issues.

While our alternative-sentencing legislation for nonviolent offenders did not pass the Legislature, we will, in coordination with Gov. Mark Sanford, continue to push for reasonable and safe change in our criminal justice system and our sentencing structure.

In the face of tremendous challenges, the employees at the Department of Corrections continue to find ways to improve. After four years of budget shortfalls, we are arguably the most efficient prison system in the country. We rank second nationally in controlling spending per inmate, yet our three-year recidivism rate has remained among the lowest in the nation, at 30 percent. We have also begun to track five-year recidivism.

These important numbers indicate that Corrections employees continue to strive for the proper balance: a safe, efficient prison system that is firm but fair, while providing opportunities for willing inmates to better themselves before returning to society.

Mr. Ozmint is director of the Department of Corrections.