Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center

The Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center (FMWCC, originally the Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility) is a state prison for women in North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. All custody levels (minimum, medium and maximum) are housed there. It is operated by the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC). It houses Nevada's female death row.[1]

Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center
Location in Nevada
Coordinates36°15′27″N 115°04′37″W
StatusOperational
Security classMinimum to Maximum
Capacity950 (171 staff)
OpenedSeptember 1, 1997 (September 1, 1997)
Former nameSouthern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility
Managed byNevada Department of Corrections
WardenDwight Neven
Street address4370 Smiley Road
CityNorth Las Vegas
State/provinceNevada
ZIP Code89115-1808
CountryUnited States
Websitedoc.nv.gov/Facilities/FMWCC_Facility/

History

The Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility opened September 1, 1997. It was built and operated by Corrections Corporation of America.[2] Built for $28 million,[3] it was the first and only privately run prison in Nevada.[4][5] It relieved prisons at Carson City and Indian Springs. A women's facility at Carson City, Warm Springs Correctional Center, was converted to house male inmates. The 145,000-square-foot (13,500 m2) Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Center was built to house around 500 inmates. The dedication was held on Saturday, September 13, 1997, with inmates being moved in the following week.[4]

In 2003, Correctional Officer Randy Easter raped inmate Korinda Martin. A judge sentenced the two to probation.[6] On February 23, 2004, the Corrections Corporation of America said that they would not renew their contract to operate the facility, which expired on October 1, 2004. Officials stated that the company lost over $1 million per year while operating the facility. NDOC solicited bids for another private company to operate the prison. Bids were due on May 4, 2004. State Senator Bob Coffin objected to the idea of another private company operating the prison.[7] The Nevada Department of Corrections assumed direct control on October 1, 2004.[2] Nevada State Senate Bill 330, which renamed the prison after prisoner advocate Florence McClure, passed unanimously in the Nevada Senate on Thursday April 5, 2007.[8] Florence McClure spoke at the dedication ceremony in November 2007, at which the name was officially changed. Florence McClure died in November 2009.[9]

The facility

The current capacity of FMWCC is 888.[2] This number does not include three housing units and new infirmary that were completed in July 2009. This Facility now housed Maximum Security also.

The Warden of FMWCC also oversees operations at the Jean Conservation Camp at Jean, Nevada and Casa Grande Transitional Housing in Las Vegas.

Notable Inmates

Death Row

References
  1. "Lone woman on Nevada's death row dies in prison ." Associated Press at North County Times. January 31, 2005. Retrieved on September 5, 2010.
  2. "Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center". Nevada Department of Corrections. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
  3. Puit, Glenn. "Lock and Load." Las Vegas Review-Journal. September 14, 1997. Retrieved on January 6, 2010.
  4. Scott, Cathy. "New women’s prison will help relieve overcrowding." Las Vegas Sun. Friday September 12, 1997. Retrieved on January 6, 2010.
  5. Whitely, Joan. "Stopping the Revolving Door: Positive Time." Las Vegas Review-Journal. October 1, 2000. Retrieved on January 6, 2010. "Entering its fourth year, it is the only privately run prison in Nevada and ..."
  6. Puit, Glenn. "Judge doubts inmate story." Las Vegas Review-Journal. Wednesday April 20, 2005. Retrieved on September 29, 2010.
  7. Vogel, Ed. "Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Facility: Study: Running prison to cost state." Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 1, 2004. Retrieved on January 6, 2010.
  8. Morrison, Jane Ann. "Jane Ann Morrison: Bill to rename prison honors tireless advocate for female inmates, victims." Las Vegas Review-Journal. April 9, 2007. Retrieved on January 6, 2010.
  9. Classic Las Vegas, "Florence McClure, activist, has died"
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.