State seeks more information on youth jail bidders

Monday, May 20, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The state is asking for more information from three companies that have applied to reopen Summit View, the correctional center for serious juvenile offenders in Clark County.

An evaluation committee in the state Purchasing Division had intended to decide Thursday which of the three to recommend.

But Colleen Janes of the Purchasing Division said Friday the four-member committee wanted more information from the applicants. She said they would be given about two weeks to reply, then the committee will reconvene.

The committee will score the applications and make its recommendation to State Human Resources Director Mike Willden, who will make the final selection. The purchasing division will then negotiate a contract.

The applicants are Rite of Passage Inc. of Minden, Diversified Business Vision of Las Vegas and Securicor New Century of Richmond, Va.

The former contractor, Correctional Services Corp., canceled its contract to run the $14 million center effective this year, complaining the state did not commit enough delinquents to make it profitable.

The center was closed at the end of January and has been in mothballs since. State officials say they hope to reopen in September or October.

Correctional Services was hired in 2000 but encountered problems such as attempted escapes and female staff having romantic relations with inmates.

The state paid Correctional Services about $122 a day per inmate.

The Legislative Interim Finance Committee rejected a plan by Gov. Kenny Guinn to have the state run the facility at a cost of $155 a day. Instead the committee said a private company should be found to operate the center.