Women inmates leave Carson for Vegas

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Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997 | 8:30 a.m.

Before the bus and two vans left Monday, Prison Director Bob Bayer and Women's prison Warden Robin Bates spent about 90 minutes talking informally with the inmates.

Some women expressed concerns about moving to the new prision - the state's first privatized facility. It will be operated by Corrections Corp. of America.

"It's hard," said Bates. "Some of these women have been here 15 years or more. It may be a prison, but they know the place."

Bayer assured the inmates that he would have a staffer permanently stationed at the new prison, and that he'd make regular visits. He also encouraged the convicts to write and let his staff know how the new prison is working.

The 65 women who made the trip included many convicted of serious crimes. More than 15 are serving time for murder and one, Priscilla Ford, is the only woman under sentence of death in Nevada.