Nevada Department of Corrections

History

In 1862, the first prison in Nevada was created by the Territorial Legislature. The Legislature leased the property of the Warm Springs Hotel, just east of Carson City, for use as a Prison. This property was owned by Abraham Curry, who operated the Warm Springs Hotel on the property, which was also the meeting place of the Territorial Legislature. This prison is located on what is now Fifth Street in Carson. Curry became the first Warden of the Prison. A quarry on the site of the Prison was used for stone for the State Capitol and other public buildings. It also provided materials for the construction of the Prison and was the major work activity for inmates for many years.

In 1864, the Territorial Legislature purchased the site of the Prison from Curry and an additional 20 acres (8.1 ha) for $80,000. Nevada became a State in October of that year, and the new constitution provided that the Lieutenant Governor of the State also served as the Warden of the Prison. The Governor, Secretary of State, and the Attorney General were named as the Board of Prison Commissioners, an arrangement that continues today.

In May 1870, a substantial portion of the prison burned and construction of new facilities began immediately, using the native stone and inmate labor. Portions of that early construction are still visible in the current structure of the Prison. This Nevada State Prison remained the only state correctional facility in Nevada for many decades. Both men and women were housed in the facility, in separate areas. Expansion of the Prison began in the early 1960s with the construction of a second facility on Carson City, which became the Northern Nevada correctional Center. A separate institution was also constructed next to the Nevada State Prison, for the separate housing of female offenders. The construction of the first facility in the Las Vegas area was completed in early 1978.

There are presently seven major institutions; two transitional housing centers; 9 conservation camps; and one Boot Camp operated by the Department of Corrections.

Training

Correction Officers (C/O's) are SWORN Peace Officers and are recognized under the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS's). Correctional Cadets undergo a hiring process through the department's personnel unit in Carson City, Las Vegas and Ely, Nevada. Written, physical and psychological exams are administered before a person can enter the 8 week academy. Upon acceptance, an enrollee is now a CO/T (correctional officer trainee.) Trainees must attend and successfully complete didactic (classroom) and physical training. Upon academy graduation, CO/T's are assigned to institutions and are of probationary status. According to the NRS's, the definition of any probationary employee means the person may be terminated at any time for any-or no reason.

Security levels

The Nevada Department of Corrections utilizes five custody levels. These custody levels are:

Inmates not confined to institutions, yet still monitored by the Department of Corrections are assigned to Residential Confinement. These inmates meet a strict criminal history and behavioral criteria and are supervised by the Division of Parole & Probation. In this program inmates live in their residence and work in the community. When not at work or authorized appointments the inmates remain in their residence under electronic surveillance

Organization

The headquarters facility resides in the former Stewart Indian School in Carson City, with the central offices in Building 17.

The department also has Las Vegas area (southern) offices which include the headquarters of the Prison Industries program, the department's medical and investigation sections, the southern administrative office, and a personnel office. The southern offices are on the property of the Casa Grande Transitional Housing facility.

Death row

The death row for men is located at Ely State Prison. The death row for women is in the Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center (previously Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Center). The execution chamber is still located in Nevada State Prison, which is located in Carson City. Nevada executes inmates via lethal injection. The process is carried out in the former gas chamber. Due to a lack of elevator access this gas chamber is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). Greg Cox, the director of the Nevada DOC, stated that he anticipated a legal challenge to carrying out the execution there if an execution date is set.

As of 2012 the department was considering a capital improvement program that would relocate the execution chamber from Nevada State Prison to Ely State Prison.

Facilities

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Nevada Department of Corrections (1862), two officers have died in the line of duty.