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| ND Senate approves $64M prison remodeling |
| By The Associated Press |
| Published: 05/04/2009 |
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By DALE WETZEL Associated Press Writer , The Associated Press - BISMARCK, N.D. A $64 million construction and renovation project at North Dakota's state prison no longer includes a proposal to move the minimum-security Missouri River Correctional Center nearer to the main penitentiary. North Dakota's Senate approved the blueprint Friday, 43-3, after House negotiators dropped their demand that the spending bill include $6 million for an MRCC move. However, representatives have yet to endorse the plan; the House declined to take up the bill Friday night. Separately, a $171.4 million budget for the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation won approval in both the Senate and House on Friday. Gov. John Hoeven had requested $67 million for the prison renovation project, which would replace the penitentiary's east cell block, build a new medical clinic, with new facilities for isolating troublesome prisoners and evaluating new ones for their treatment needs. It would increase the number of prison beds from 561 to 813, including 130 new beds for the penitentiary's general population. Sen. Tony Grindberg, R-Fargo, said prison officials were comfortable with lowering their money request to $64 million because they believe the slowing economy will make bidding more competitive. Sen. David O'Connell, D-Lansford, the Senate's minority leader, said penitentiary improvements were sorely needed to make it safer for correctional officers and easier for inmates to get medical treatment. The prison's infirmary is tiny and accessible by a narrow flight of stairs. "There are so many blind corners," O'Connell said. "This place has to be upgraded. I think it's a good plan for the time being." Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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