Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget would remove more than 1,508 positions and about $260 million in annual funding from the Judicial Branch, which operates state courts, and place them into agencies within the Executive Branch.

Under the plan, 755 positions in juvenile probation, juvenile residential services and family services would transfer from the Judicial Branch’s court support services division to the Department of Children and Families.

The Department of Correction would assume adult probation services and the alternative incarceration program, a total of 753 positions.

The Court Support Services Division would retain 339 positions including bail commissioners, pre-trial intake services support enforcement and victim services.

Malloy said the reorganization is part of his Second Chance Society initiative to help non-violent offenders become productive members of society rather than send them to prison. The initiative would be funded, in part, with $24.3 million in savings realized from the state’s declining prison population, according to the proposal.

Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers, who oversees the Judicial Branch, released a statement saying the branch strongly opposes the proposal.

“Our concern is that we have seen no evidence substantiating how this proposal will result in greater efficiencies or better outcomes in the criminal justice system, the juvenile justice system or the family court system,” the statement says. “Additionally, we do not agree that the proposal will result in budgetary savings.”

Rogers said the Judicial Branch recognizes that the state’s budget deficit will impact all aspects of state government.

“We have worked closely with both branches of government in the past and will continue to do so to address this problem,” the statement said. “However, we do not believe that this proposal will achieve the goals outlined in the recommended budget.”

k.florin@theday.com