CNMI prison improvements draw praise from feds

Officials of the National Institute of Corrections have expressed satisfaction over improvements carried out in the prison facility in the CNMI which assures additional funding from the federal government, according to Rep. Heinz Hofschneider.

NIC Director Morris Thigpen toured the facility last week with members of the Prison Task Force and was surprised to see the reforms carried out by the CNMI government on the life and safety aspects of the facility as well as continuous training of the staff who will be in charge in managing the prison.

“We have taken cared of most of the short-term problems that have been cited by the U.S. Department of Justice. We are now pursuing long-term plans for the corrections facility,” Mr. Hofschneider said.

The island government for a long time was under fire from federal officials for failing to improve prison conditions, which have been the subject of several complaints by inmates.

On the management of prison, a one-week training of the corrections officers on Correctional Operations, Standards and Practices is currently being conducted by Michael J. Dooley, corrections program specialist at NIC Academy, and Dan Pacholke, emergency response manager at Washington State Prison, to some 38 staff from different agencies.

Mr. Dooley, who has been here three times to provide training for the corrections staff, said the current administration has done a lot of work in modifying the standards of the facility and conducting staff training.

The federal government has provided $1.5 million to carry out changes on the three facilities — Division of Corrections, Division of Immigration and Division of Youth Services.

Mr. Hofschneider said the task force is on target in connection with the construction of a new prison in Susupe and a juvenile detention in Kagman which will be constructed next year. Bidding for construction is scheduled for Dec. 18, 2000.

Groundbreaking for the juvenile detention will be held next month with the announcement of the winning bidder in the next few days.

The state-of-the-art and energy-efficient prison in Susupe and juvenile detention in Kagman will cost over $22 million. The plan for the two facilities will meet the terms and requirements of a consent decree forged by the CNMI with the U.S. Department of Justice two years ago following findings of inhuman and deplorable conditions at existing facilities.

Representatives of the task force are in the U.S. mainland right now to review the progress of the design, Mr. Hofschneider said.

The Susupe facility will sit on more than 100,000 square feet and will house the adult prison, the immigration detention as well as medical and psychiatric ward interconnected under the low-building.

Initially, the project will involve the construction of the facilities for 344 inmates, including 25 beds reserved for the U.S. Marshal’s office on the island. But the facility will have a maximum capacity of 555 beds with future expansion plan of up to 971 beds.

Targeted completion is in February 2003.