Company applies to run Summit View

Thursday, May 2, 2002 | 10:03 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A newly formed Las Vegas company composed of veteran juvenile officers is one of three firms that have applied to the state to run the closed Summit View youth detention center.

Diversified Business Vision of Las Vegas, along with Rite of Passage of Minden and Securicor New Century of Virginia, submitted applications to the state Department of Human Resources by the Monday's deadline.

A team of evaluators will review the applications and is expected to make a recommendation May 16 to Human Resources Director Mike Willden, who will make the final decision.

The $14 million center is a 96-bed facility for serious male juvenile offenders. It opened in 2000 and was run under contract by Correctional Services Corp. But after a number of problems, including attempted escapes and sexual contact between female staff and inmates, the private company ended its contract, saying it was losing money.

The facility has been closed for several months.

Securicor, according to its website, has a contract to run a 104-bed juvenile facility for the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. It has been selected as the preferred provider to run a residential commitment program for moderate-risk youth in Avon Park, Fla.

It is also involved in other security operations, including guarding and cash services in Venezuela, and operating mobile patrols and other security measures in Germany.

Diversified Business is headed by William Florence, a 25-year resident of Southern Nevada. Florence said its 13 members all work for the county in juvenile detention programs.

Florence said, "We know how to work institutions." The previous contractor did not provide oversight and hired inexperienced people, he said.

If Diversified Business gets the contract, Florence said it will hire experienced workers and take a "hands-on" approach to running the detention center.

Many of the "high risk" offenders came through the county system and Florence and his colleagues are familiar with them, he said. "We need to provide programs" at Summit View, Florence said.

Rite of Passage is a nonprofit group that has run youth correction programs in Nevada for a number of years. Many of its inmates are from California.

When Summit View was closed, Rite of Passage accepted some of the youngsters.

When Correctional Services pulled out of its contract, Gov. Kenny Guinn proposed the state take over operation of Summit View. But his suggestion was blocked by the Legislative Interim Finance Committee, which favored a private company to run the center.

The state paid Correctional Services about $122 a day per inmate. The state proposal would have cost $155 a day per inmate.

Details of the proposals submitted by the three firms are confidential until a winner is named.