Gov. Deal wants more education opportunities for prisoners

ATLANTA (AP) Gov. Nathan Deal said Thursday Georgia should use charter schools to help its prison inmates earn high school diplomas. <br /> <br /> Deal spoke Thursday afternoon to lawmakers charged with reviewing his $45 billion spending plan. The proposal narrows spending cuts to public schools, gives state employees a small raise and hires more child welfare employees. <br /> <br /> Deal limited his comments Thursday to criminal justice, which has become a signature issue for the Republican. <br /> <br /> The governor says education is critical to helping people stay out of trouble when they are released. He also wants to expand the number of alternative courts and hire full-time teachers at state prisons. He says the changes will cost $12.2 million. <br /> <br /> Lawmakers have held hearings all week on the proposal and return to the Capitol on Monday.