Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Prisons chief says closure would save state $16.1 million

CARSON CITY – Closing the aging Nevada State Prison in Carson City would save $16.1 million in the next two fiscal years, correctional officials say.

Greg Cox, director of the state Department of Corrections, told a legislative budget subcommittee Wednesday that the prison is the oldest one west of the Mississippi River, and the potential closure “is one of the toughest decisions I have had to make.”

But Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-Las Vegas, said the proposed closure was rejected in 2009 because there was no plan dealing with inmate capacity, and medical and security issues.

“We need answers before we decide,” Horsford said.

There are about 730 inmates at the prison, Cox said. And there are 672 vacant beds in two vacant units at the High Desert State Prison in Southern Nevada. The rest of the inmates could be placed in other prisons.

To save money, the prison system won't continue to pay for coffee, tea and soft drinks for inmates. That would save $400,000 over the biennium. Jeff Mohlenkamp, the chief financial officer for the corrections department, said the staff is giving up something so the inmates should also also be penalized. Inmates would be able to purchase the items from prison stores.

Under the budget of Gov. Brian Sandoval, the pay of correctional officers will be reduced 5 percent, the same as other state workers. New hires at the prisons won't receive a 5 percent bonus for working night shifts or being stationed in rural areas, like current employees.

Cox said it will be more difficult to recruit officers with those cutbacks.

The 142-year old prison in Carson City was started when the state purchased a hotel and converted it. It is now the most expensive in the state to operate, costing the state $23,615 a year per inmate.

The cost at High Desert State Prison, where most of the inmates would be re-located, is $14,061 a year per inmate. In addition, the Carson City prison would cost an additional $30 million in construction projects to keep it operating.

Mohlenkamp said 15 other states are closing prisons. “It’s a best way to save an amount of money,” he told the budget subcommittee.

The prison in Carson City has 209 staff and 91 would be transferred to other institutions.

Under the plan, the state prison would be closed in three phases, starting this July and ending in October this year.

Cox also said the prison system is examining installing a video visitation system since visitors cannot take off work or travel to prisons located around the state.

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