Editorial: State should run prison

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 | 8:28 a.m.

The state now has 215 more reasons to end seven years of private management at the women's prison in North Las Vegas. Last week, 215 of the prison's current inmate population of 464 signed a petition that was sent to Gov. Kenny Guinn, members of the Legislature and the state Department of Corrections. The women protested conditions at the prison, particularly medical care. When almost half of a prison's population signs a petition against people who have almost total power over them, it shows more than courage -- it shows evidence of mismanagement.

We believe the state should strongly respond to this petition. The inmates should be interviewed and their charges thoroughly investigated. Dr. Ted D'Amico, director of health care for the state prison system, has previously criticized the Corrections Corp. of America, which has been running the prison since it opened in 1997. He has said CCA "doesn't know how to run a medical program" and he has also faulted the prison's mental health and dental programs.

CCA executives, complaining about not getting enough money from the state, announced earlier this year they would not renew their contract at the women's prison, which expires Oct. 1. Instead of contemplating other private bids, which it is doing, the state should end what has been the prison's history of high-profile management problems. It should run the prison itself.