Operator of privatized youth prison calls it quits

Kim Smith

Monday, Sept. 24, 2001 | 9:20 a.m.

The private company that operates the youth prison where inmates took over a rooftop in June is pulling out of its contract -- two years before it expires.

The state now must decide if it wants to run Summit View Youth Correctional Center, send the juveniles to other facilities or contract with another private company.

Summit View, which opened in June 2000 on Range Road north of Nellis Air Force Base, is the state's first secure youth prison and first privately run juvenile facility.

The state runs minimum-security youth training camps in Elko and Caliente and, before Summit View, sent its most violent offenders to youth prisons out of state.

Summit View holds the state's most serious and chronic offenders between 13 and 18 years old, although the state can continue to supervise them until they are 20.

The teens are sent to Summit View for such offenses as committing crimes with weapons, sex-related crimes and repeated violations.

The company that operates Summit View, Youth Services International, notified the state in the first week of September that it wants out of its $4.3 million annual contract, said Bruce Alder, the acting administrator for the state's Division of Child and Family Services, which oversees juvenile corrections in Nevada. It is required to give 180 days' notice.

The decision came two weeks after the Sun began investigating reported problems in the prison. The company pulled out of a similar contract in Florida after problems came to light and has been under fire in Maryland after a state audit found problems at two YSI facilities there.

Officials of the Florida-based company told the state the decision to pull out of Nevada was made because the prison never reached 95 percent capacity and administrators had trouble hiring staff in Las Vegas' highly competitive market, Alder said.

Summit View, which was built by the state for $14 million, is capable of housing 96 inmates, but the most it ever held was 81, said Willie Smith, the deputy administrator of the Division of Child and Family Services who oversees juvenile detention and probation.

YSI officials did not respond to the Sun's repeated requests for comment, both directly and through their attorney, former Sen. Richard Bryan.

In a conference call Thursday between state and YSI officials, the company made it clear it plans to pull out as soon as possible, Smith said, adding she expects YSI will be gone by mid-March.

Alder said he was surprised by YSI's decision, especially since the company has completed 96 percent of an action plan that was written in May to correct ongoing problems.

"Our focus was on carrying out the plan and continuing to be honorable partners," Alder said. "We assumed we were dealing with honorable partners and they were working on the plan as well."

YSI and the state are forming "transition teams" to ensure the change in administration is smooth, Smith said. The transition probably will be completed in phases, she said.

The state hopes to make the split as "amiable and smooth" as possible, Alder said.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, Michael Willden, director of the state's human resources division, which oversees the Division of Child and Family Services, and other officials have scheduled a meeting this week to discuss the state's options for the facility.

The state entered into the contract with YSI and its parent company, Correctional Services Corp., Smith said, because officials did not believe the state had the expertise to operate a secure facility. The youth camps in Elko and Caliente don't even have fences.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, chairman of the legislative committee that in 1997 introduced the bill to create Summit View, recalled no controversy over having a private company operate the facility.

"There are good examples of privatization, and I guess there are some that don't succeed," Raggio said.

Raggio said he was unaware of the problems at Summit View.

Whatever Guinn's decision, it will be made by the time YSI leaves, so that the transition can be seamless, Alder said.

"We are looking at our options," Alder said. "We're looking at what we can do as far as other providers, and we're looking at what a budget would look like if we were to take over."

Alder said the state would prefer not to send inmates to other facilities. The state's youth training centers are at or above capacity, and other youth prisons are out of state.

A variety of problems at Summit View came to light after 20 inmates escaped onto a rooftop and had an hours-long standoff with police on the first anniversary of the prison's opening.

The inmates caused more than $12,000 in damage, tearing up an air-conditioning unit and throwing pieces at police below.

Most gave up after spending hours in the 100-plus degree heat, although police removed at least two, and most of their cases have been settled.

The majority of inmates who were certified as adults pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property and most were placed on probation. The juveniles who plea-bargained pleaded guilty to misdemeanor crimes and were sent back to Summit View. Other inmates are awaiting trial.

The facility made the news again Aug. 29, when two former employees were arrested on charges of having sex with two inmates, ages 17 and 18.

The women pleaded guilty and will likely receive probation when they are sentenced next month, prosecutors said.

Almost 3,000 internal documents obtained by the Sun reveal that state officials were aware of problems at Summit View from day one. They ultimately worked out a corrective plan with YSI administrators in May, which included:

* The development of a youth rights system.

* The implementation of programming and case management standards.

* The establishment of procedures in the event of an escape.

* The training of all staff before they receive work assignments.

* The development of an effective grievance system.

* The development of a way to track allegations of mistreatment.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Teuton said he was not surprised by YSI's decision. He said he hopes state officials take their time in making a decision about the facility's future.

"I think they need to take a hard look at qualifications, if they do decide to go for another private corporation," Teuton said. "I hope they look at every specification in the contract to make sure they are in place before they take over."

The need for a secure youth prison continues, Teuton said.

"We need a facility like Summit View for those who need to be separated from the vast majority of the kids who are successfully rehabilitated and can learn to follow the rules," Teuton said.

Sun librarian Rebecca Bagayas contributed to this article.