Wyoming's new medium-security prison isn't scheduled to open until December 2007, but state and local officials are working already to fill the 357 jobs that it will create.

Wyoming Department of Corrections recruiters visited Torrington's Workforce Service Center this week and said they will continue to work closely with the center until the prison is finished.

Brenda Reedy, recruiter and deputy human resources manger for department, held seminars all day Monday and visited with 25 people looking into applying for jobs at the prison.

The department's request for 357 new positions will come before the Legislature in the 2006 session. If the request is approved, the agency will begin filling management positions in July 2006, with the bulk of the rest of the employees the summer and fall of 2007, according to Reedy.
The prison will have 696 beds, with 654 normal occupancy capacity.

The Department of Corrections is working to hire people from the area who are willing to move to other state correctional facilities to gain experience and then return to work in Torrington when the prison opens.