Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Legislators support $67M N.D. prison remodel

Legislators support $67M N.D. prison remodel

Aug 22, 2008 - 04:06:34 CDT

By DALE WETZEL
Associated Press Writer

A group of lawmakers has settled on a $67 million plan for new construction and remodeling at North Dakota's state penitentiary after discarding proposals to spend three times that much to replace the prison.

The blueprint endorsed Thursday by the Legislature's interim Correctional Facility Review Committee includes a new cell block, a medical clinic, new segregation cells for prisoners with disciplinary problems and an expanded orientation center for new inmates.

The prison's east cell house, which was built in 1910, would be demolished. The proposal would add 251 beds to the main state prison, increasing its capacity from 562 to 813 beds.

Leann Bertsch, director of the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said the plan would meet the prison's most pressing construction needs and provide a better environment for its workers.

"We have almost 800 employees in the Department of Corrections," Bertsch said. "They deserve to come to a safe environment to do their jobs, which is critical to keeping North Dakota safe."

In April, the committee endorsed a more elaborate two-year prison construction and remodeling plan, at an estimated cost of $80.6 million. Corrections officials and Gov. John Hoeven balked at the cost, and Rep. Chet Pollert, R-Carrington, committee chairman, helped craft a less expensive alternative.

The committee endorsed the $67 million option on Thursday. Its recommendations will be forwarded to the Legislative Council, which supervises interim studies, and presented to the 2009 Legislature.

The study group's members included the Senate's Republican and Democratic floor leaders, Bob Stenehjem of Bismarck and David O'Connell of Lansford, along with Sen. Tony Grindberg, R-Fargo, and Reps. Ralph Metcalf, D-Valley City, and Alon Wieland, R-West Fargo.

"There's going to be a lot of debate on this one," O'Connell said. "This is an excellent starting point."

Pollert said legislators have expressed a number of opinions about the best strategy for prison improvements.

"There's a group of people that think we should build brand new, and spend the money, and be done with it," Pollert said. "And then there's a group of people who think we really shouldn't do anything, and that we should have rehab programs."

The plan does not affect the Missouri River Correctional Center, a 150-bed, minimum-security prison eight miles south of Bismarck, or the James River Correctional Center in Jamestown, which was established a decade ago.

The committee considered proposals to relocate the Missouri River center within the fences of a new state prison, and sell its 985 acres of property. That option is not mentioned in the recommended bill.

The James River prison is a remodeled former hospital, located on the grounds of North Dakota's state psychiatric hospital. It can hold about 400 inmates.

Almost two years ago, Hoeven set aside $42 million for penitentiary improvements in his spending recommendations to the 2007 Legislature.

But lawmakers could not agree on whether remodeling or new construction was the best option. They put $41 million in a special prison fund for future construction while agreeing to spend $250,000 for a consultant's review of building options.

The study included estimated costs for remodeling the existing prison and for building a new prison complex. Five potential sites were scouted for new construction, with land acquisition and building costs ranging from $281 million to $300 million.

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Comments

Jonny B wrote on Aug 23, 2008 8:51 AM:

" Remodeling the existing prison is the best option. I live near the Missouri River Correctional Facility which a minimum security prison and I have never had anyone from there walk into my yard. I guess Wal Mart might be a good place for a prisoner to fit in . Your paranoid delusions are not justifiable Big D.

Furthermore, the state penitentiary was once called the territorial prison. It is both historic and effective. Escapes are very rare. However, the largest breakout at the state Penitentiary occurred over 25 years ago. 10 prisoners escaped but all were apprehended within a week. No prison is 100% escape proof. It is up to the prison guards to keep them secure. "

Snookered wrote on Aug 23, 2008 7:16 AM:

" Maybe Streamline could help out like they did for the aquatic center. "

repeat wrote on Aug 23, 2008 2:22 AM:

" just read these last few comments nothing is going to be resolved as long as
the talking points are still in play. remove the "studies" remove the "ego's"
remove the "what if's" and do SOMETHING!! "

The Big D wrote on Aug 22, 2008 9:40 PM:

" I cannot believe that remodeling the pen is a option. The current prison is right in the middle of a business district. I cant wait for prisoners to show up while Im shopping at Wal Mart. The state brags about the surplus of money so lets get that piece of junk out of the middle of Bismarck. "

JP wrote on Aug 22, 2008 2:50 PM:

" You are all right though... this is the same legislature that has been "studying" the outmigration of population of the state for almost ten years now and has done absolutely nothing about it... They even celebrated passing the bill that stated if the federal minimum wage increased they would follow it... most often it seems as if the sessions are a joke... "

JP wrote on Aug 22, 2008 2:45 PM:

" We have a sizable surplus in the state right now due to oil field activity. This same oil field is going to attract some less than honorable workers who are going to find themselves in prison. We can either build the new facility now while we have the money or wait until we are bursting at the seams and letting people out early due to overcrowding. This remodel is putting a band-aid on a broken arm... it may look like it is going to help but the real problems are still underneath and will continue to be problems... "

Law wrote on Aug 22, 2008 12:19 PM:

" Sad part is it is pretty much the same plan that went for 40 million last session, now after dragging their feet it is going to cost 67 million, after another study or two, who knows what the price tag will be. "

FlyOnTheWall wrote on Aug 22, 2008 10:52 AM:

" This is a short-sighted plan. The legislature should partner with an outside company to build an entirely new facility and lease it long term. Yes, I'm suggesting privatization. Not of the staff, guards, warden, etc., but of the building itself. This has been done in other states (including Montana) and most companies allow the state to purchase the facility outright if they decide to sometime during the lease agreement.

This would be a far wiser use of taxpayer money. "

kk wrote on Aug 22, 2008 9:04 AM:

" and whose money are they in favor of spending? "

Jonny B wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:57 AM:

" Law,

Yes, I understand that that they are proposing to rebuild the existing prison. However, the decision will not be final until approved in the 2009 session. You know that there will be opposition to this proposal. Nothing has been finalized as of yet. "

Law wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:22 AM:

" Jonny B, that is exactly what they are proposing to do. Remodel not build. "

Jonny B wrote on Aug 22, 2008 7:56 AM:

" Keep the old prison and remodel it. There is absolutely no reason to built an entirely new prison for four times the cost. We should also keep the Missouri River Correctional Center the way it is and out of the hands of few greedy private developers. It is state owned-land and should remain state-owned land, not expensive river front houses. "

forget about it wrote on Aug 22, 2008 4:38 AM:

" You know as well as i do that this is the same legislator that sat on thier hands last session and will do so again we are not really getting much bang for the buck when it comes to our PAID legislators.. nuff said Fire em all!!!! "

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