PHOENIX -- Arizona’s prisons are facing tough times. Both state and federal lawmaker are proposing cuts to their budgets.

The Arizona House Appropriations Committee recently passed a budget bill that included a $33 million reduction to the Arizona Department of Corrections budget.

President Barack Obama’s recent budget proposal would eliminate a program that pays states to house illegal immigrants. Arizona receives $12.8 million per year from the program.

If the cuts become permanent, some of the suggested ways to save money include eliminating 612 correction officers, reducing programs to rehabilitate inmates and releasing some non-violent inmates early.

“It's up to be up to the legislature to decide how the money is spent and if prisoners are released,” Barrett Marson said. He is the director of communications for the Arizona Department of Corrections.

Marson said releasing prisoners is a last resort.

He also said the department will also strive to save correction officers’ jobs; however, he said nothing has been decided.

“Everything has to be on the table when you're looking at budget reductions,“ he said.