Idaho completes return of out-of-state inmates

Tools

Story Published: Jul 11, 2009 at 7:22 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 11, 2009 at 7:22 PM PDT

By KLEW Web Staff

BOISE – The Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) announced that it has completed the transport of 188 inmates from an Oklahoma prison to Idaho, signaling an end to the department’s four-year practice of renting out-of-state beds to ease overcrowding.

“This is a milestone for the department and something the people of Idaho can truly celebrate,” said IDOC Director Brent Reinke, in a news release from the department. “We’re saving taxpayer dollars, and in the long run, making our communities safer.”

IDOC said the return of the inmates is made possible, in part, by the opening of 628 new beds at Idaho Correctional Center (ICC). It will cost $40.00 a day to house one inmate at ICC versus $61.53 at North Fork Correctional Facility (NFCF) in Sayre, Oklahoma. As a result, IDOC will save $1.4 million in Fiscal Year 2010.

In addition to the savings, IDOC said the money that is spent on incarceration will help create new jobs for Idahoans. Corrections Corporation of America, which operates ICC, says it has hired 103 people as a result of the increase in the facility’s inmate population

“It’s wonderful to see this money being put to work right here in Idaho creating jobs and helping fuel our economy instead of flowing out of state,” said Idaho Board of Correction Chair Robin Sandy.

Three hundred four of the new beds at ICC were created by converting a warehouse into a housing unit. The conversion cost $4.7 million, far less than the estimated $12.5 million needed to build a new, standalone facility of comparable size.

The removal of the inmates from NFCF began on June 21st. It culminated with today’s arrival of 40 inmates at Idaho State Correctional Institution south of Boise. All of the inmate transports were done by bus.

“This was a huge logistical undertaking that has quietly played out over the past three weeks,” Director Reinke said. “I’m very proud of the correctional professionals who made sure the operation went off without a hitch.”

IDOC started sending inmates out of state on October 25, 2005.

More news articles

Current Weather

Current Temp 40.0 °F

Fair

More Weather

Current Weather

More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.