UPDATE --Valdosta, Ga. -- February 9, 2012 --

CORRECTION- It was earlier reported that 40 in Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice could be terminated. It is in fact 20 jobs. Please see below for details.

-- Valdosta, Ga. -- February 9, 2012 --

Statewide budget cuts could terminate 20 teacher and educational staff positions within the Department of Juvenile Justice's educational program. Of those 20 jobs, 8 are currently vacant. 4 of these jobs are for actual teachers.

There is no word yet as to where the cuts will occur. Juvenile Court Judge Wayne Ellerbee says the Juvenile Justice Department "has not been the favorite of the legislator. They don't like to spend money on juveniles or on children for things perhaps parents should be doing."

He elaborated on the impact of the budget cuts emphasizing the importance of rehabilitation. He said "education for a lot of these children is the last asylum or the only asylum they have for structure. The only asylum they have for at least two meals a day. The only place they have where perhaps they feel like somebody cares for them."

Last year in Georgia there were over 1,100 juveniles sentenced as adults. The state pays over $1.1 billion for prisons annually.