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| Arizona Inmates to be Moved to Texas |
| By Arizona Department of Corrections |
| Published: 11/25/2002 |
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The Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) is finalizing a contract with Correctional Services Corporation (CSC), to place up to 645 male inmates in the company's Newton County Correctional Center located in Newton, Texas. The facility is approximately 150 miles northeast of Houston, Texas. This action comes as a result of the Arizona Legislature directing funding for the remainder of the fiscal year to place inmates in private prison beds, including out-of-state. These beds were authorized to provide immediate relief to severe prison overcrowding. The authority to place inmates out-of-state was designated by the Legislature in order to take advantage of a competitive private prison bidding environment and reduce the Department's operating costs in these fiscally challenging times. The average daily per capita cost for housing an inmate in a state prison bed is $58.51 per day. The rate being charged by CSC for the Newton, Texas facility is $38.25. The Department expects to begin transferring inmates to Texas in the latter part of November or early December once implementation and operational issues are finalized with CSC. A process is underway to identify approximately 100 Level 2 (minimum security) and 545 Levels 3 and 4 (medium and high medium security) inmates for transfer. The criteria includes classification scores, release dates, and medical and mental health needs. Specialized inmate populations such as protective segregation, sex offenders, driving-under-the-influence offenders, and maximum security inmates are excluded from consideration. Acting Corrections Director Charles Ryan said the Department is carefully considering all factors involving the transfer of inmates to another state and is taking all precautions. 'We recognize the strain this may cause on inmate families and we are attempting to take this into consideration as we identify who will be transferred. Unfortunately, the fact is that severe prison overcrowding and limited state resources have left us without any other viable options,' Ryan said. The Department currently has about 3,500 more inmates than beds. Department staff are working in tandem with CSC to ensure a smooth transition and that the Texas facility will comply with all ADC policies and operate nearly identically to Arizona prisons. As with other private prisons contracted with the Department, a monitoring program will be in place to ensure the Department's statutorily required functions - classification, inmate discipline, grievance and work assignments are carried out. The monitoring program will also ensure the delivery of legal access, health services, inmate commissary, telephone calls, visitation and inmate religious, education, and treatment programs. The Texas facility's address and other contact information will be made available to the inmates and families upon their transfer. Specific questions about an individual inmate can be addressed by the Department's Offender Services Bureau by calling 602-542-3896. |
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