Latest news with #prisonexpansion
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Existing prison locations might be only politically palatable sites for a new facility
Signs stand at the entryway to a Sept. 26, 2024, public forum hosted by Neighbors Opposed to Prison Expansion, which was working to upend South Dakota's plans for a new men's prison in Lincoln County. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakotans are being held prisoner by their indecision about where they want to build their next prison. After all the debates and accusations, it's hard to know what to think about the project. It's difficult not to be cynical watching lawmakers get all hopped up about spending $600 million. We're supposed to think that's a bargain because the original plan called for spending $850 million. So even at more than half a billion dollars, there are concerns about the new place being built on the cheap. Much of this consternation originates in the way the prison project was initially handled during the Kristi Noem administration. Neighbors of the Lincoln County project weren't made aware that state land in their county was under consideration until plans were announced for the new prison. When they found out about it, their concerns didn't matter to Noem, who was known for a my-way-or-the-highway approach to getting what she wanted. That initial secrecy in the governor's office led to so much protest from neighbors, and so much rancor in the Legislature, that the original site is now deemed too politically toxic to host the prison. Prison group stuck between local opposition and limited space As a taxpayer, and as a lifelong believer that government should be conducted in a transparent manner, it has been heartening to watch Gov. Larry Rhoden's Project Prison Reset work group conduct public meetings as they have struggled to figure out the best, most politically palatable solution to South Dakota's prison problem. It certainly hasn't been pretty, but it has been a lesson in transparent government. The work group has conducted a series of hearings about the project site. When they finally make a decision, they should hold some more hearings, this time to figure out how South Dakota managed to invest more than $50 million in the original prison site without having the official OK from the Legislature. Because officials jumped the gun, taxpayers are left with $50 million in plans and infrastructure improvements that may never be used for a prison and possibly never be used at all. The work group has yet to decide what the best location is for the new prison. Many sites have been considered, but the three still standing are locations in Mitchell and Worthing or sites where the Department of Corrections already has prisons or land in Sioux Falls and Springfield. While the Worthing site may be, well, worthy, it's also in Lincoln County. The opposition of Lincoln County residents has already killed one viable prison site. It may be in the best interests of the work group to consider that the toxicity at the original site extends to the entire county. Like the original Lincoln County site, most other sites in the state, no matter how viable, run the risk of upsetting the project's neighbors as well as those folks who just like to be upset about something. There is already a not-in-my-back-yard movement in Mitchell, reminiscent of what happened in Lincoln County. 'They didn't tell us about it until after the fact,' Mitchell resident Barbara Stadler told South Dakota Searchlight at a recent community forum, in reference to Mitchell city leaders' initial pitch to the Project Prison Reset task force. The work group runs the risk of inspiring that kind of response with any new prison site they consider. That leaves the group with the choice to build new prison facilities on sites already run by the Department of Corrections. It's hard for neighbors to make a NIMBY complaint about a new prison project when the prison is literally already in their backyard. As consultants have explained, building on or near current prison facilities is not the best choice. It may, however, be the most palatable choice for South Dakotans and the choice most likely to earn the endorsement of the Legislature.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NOPE opposes more prison sites; task force reacts
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Neighbors Opposing Prison Expansion, or NOPE, opposed a site for a new men's prison in Lincoln County between Harrisburg and Canton, a site that's no longer under consideration. The group is now sharing support for construction at existing facilities. 'Right now we're just looking at taking away information from the discussions of the task force, the studies that have been conducted. And we're just really pushing for any current facilities to be looked at, to be remodeled, updated and made ready. So really, we're not in favor of them building or duplicating any services in Worthing,' said Maddie Voegeli, vice president of NOPE. SF police searching for parolee wanted for a shooting She has similar concerns with Mitchell. 'It would just be too costly,' Voegeli said. 'And there are other ways that we can spend the $600 million that would be much better options for those incarcerated and their families.' Existing DOC facilities as well as the Mitchell and Worthing area sites remain under consideration. Task force members Erin Healy and Greg Jamison are sharing how they feel about possible sites following their latest meeting last week. 'I would say there was more discussion surrounding Mitchell because a lot of Mitchell leadership was there,' Healy said. 'Less on Worthing. But Worthing, of course, is always going to be a point of interest because it is a strong site. It was the, I believe, the number three site location on our consultants' list.' 'The Worthing site probably has a better opportunity of success,' Jamison said. 'Mitchell's just too far away from Sioux Falls and all the employees who work here, who are then going to be required to kind of move there or commute, there is a problem.' 'I've always been hesitant to choose Mitchell,' Healy said. 'I believe that they might not have all of the workforce development necessary in order to host a penitentiary.' The task force has already unanimously voiced support for replacing the state penitentiary. The state legislature will eventually hear about the group's recommendations, whichever direction they go. 'The state still has an obligation to create a prison system and manage it in the best interest of its people,' Jamison said. Project Prison Reset's task force has endorsed a plan that includes fifteen to seventeen hundred beds with a maximum cost of 600 million dollars. Both Healy and Jamison, however, question if that price cap is realistic. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bridgend: HMP Parc prison expansion plan details revealed
A prison in Bridgend could expand to house another 345 inmates, with an increase of 160 staff. The company behind the development, Galliford Try Construction Limited, says it hopes to submit a full planning application for the proposed works in of the public have been asked to give their views on early proposals to expand HMP Ministry of Justice, which owns the prison, has been approached for comment. HMP Parc is a category B prison which opened in 1997, and currently accommodates 1,670 prisoners and 676 prison has recently been criticised for failing to tackle an "alarming" amount of drug that have led to a "spate" of expansion proposals, which are subject to the consultation, include demolishing and repositioning parts of the boundary wall, building a K-shaped block to accommodate the extra prisoners, and a new gym and multifaith building. The plans also include a new access road to the north of the site, and a new car park to the Ministry of Justice, which owns the prison, has been asked to comment.G4S, which runs the prison, declined to county council said no planning application had been received at this stage, but its own consultation process would take place if that were to happen.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
More emergency measures to cut jail overcrowding before ‘zero capacity' reached
The Justice Secretary has announced more emergency measures to curb prison overcrowding as she warned jails are on track to be down to 'zero capacity' by November. Shabana Mahmood unveiled changes to prison recall on Wednesday, with criminals serving between one and four years of jail time being returned to custody only for 'a fixed 28-day period'. Offenders are recalled to prison if they commit another offence or breach licence conditions, such as by missing probation appointments, when they are released early but remain on licence. Currently those serving between one to four-year sentences can be recalled for a fixed term of 28 days, when they are automatically re-released, or for a standard term, which is for the remainder of their sentence or when the Parole Board decides they can be released earlier. It is hoped the move, which is expected to create 1,400 prison places, will 'buy time' before sentencing reforms expected to come into force next spring. Legislation to bring in the changes is expected to be introduced in the coming weeks. Ms Mahmood also announced three new prisons will be built starting this year, as part of a 'record prison expansion', but admitted 'we cannot build our way out of this crisis'. Of the recall changes, the Lord Chancellor said: 'It buys us the time we need to introduce the sentencing reforms that – alongside our record prison-building plans – will end the crisis in our prisons for good. 'The consequences of failing to act are unthinkable, but they must be understood. 'If our prisons overflow, courts cancel trials, police halt their arrests, crime goes unpunished and we reach a total breakdown of law and order.' The recall change will exclude those who commit serious crimes, such as violent and sexual offences, or are recalled for committing a further serious offence. They will still be subject to standard recall to serve the remainder of their sentence behind bars or until an earlier release is determined by the Parole Board. 'We also will exclude those who are subject to higher levels of risk management by multiple agencies where the police, prisons and probation services work together,' the Justice Secretary said. Ms Mahmood told reporters the recall population has 'more than doubled' in seven years. In 2018 the figure was 6,000, but it had climbed to 13,600 by March this year. The three new prisons will go ahead on existing Ministry of Justice land and create around 5,000 places, after securing a capital investment of £4.7 billion. Ms Mahmood said officials will be 'breaking ground' on a site near HMP Gartree in Leicestershire 'later this year'. She added: 'This is a record prison expansion, and after the long delays under the last government, who allowed their backbenchers to block every project, we are building at breakneck pace.' But she said that despite the record building, the population is 'rising too fast' and despite the funding announced on Wednesday, by spring 2028 'we will be 9,500 places short'. The latest weekly prison population in England and Wales was 88,087, 434 below the last peak of 88,521 inmates on September 6, recorded just before the Government began freeing thousands of prisoners early as part of efforts to curb overcrowding. Ministers ordered early releases by temporarily reducing the proportion of sentences some prisoners must serve behind bars from 50% to 40%. Amy Rees, the Ministry of Justice's interim permanent secretary, said the Government would 'run out of prison places in just five months' time' if further measures were not taken. 'On our current trajectory, the prison population rises by 3,000, and now we expect to hit zero capacity, to entirely run out of prison places for adult men, in November of this year,' she said. Early release measures have 'only bought the service time', Ms Rees added, including the Government's decision to reduce early release to 40% of sentences. Reacting to the fresh measures on Wednesday, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said Labour was 'making the problem worse'. He said: 'Under Labour's new rules, instead of being recalled to serve the rest of their sentence, they'll be given a fixed-term recall of a pitiful 28 days. 'They are then released, with no reassessment of risk or Parole Board oversight. 'That is not justice. It's a recipe for the breakdown of law and order. 'By telling prisoners that they will never serve their full sentence, even if they reoffend, the Justice Secretary has removed an important deterrent.' The emergency announcement comes ahead of the independent sentencing review, led by former justice secretary David Gauke, which has been looking at tougher punishments outside of prison as part of Government efforts to tackle jail overcrowding. The recommendations for reform are expected to be published in the coming weeks. Chief executive of charity Howard League for Penal Reform, Andrea Coomber KC, said the recall change was a 'logical step to take' when the recall population is rising so quickly, and said the upcoming sentencing review is a chance for 'a lasting solution to this mess'. 'There is no time to lose, and only bold reform will do,' she said. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Prison Officers Association (POA) said building new prisons will 'not improve the current population crisis'. 'The Government would be better off spending billions of taxpayers' money on modernising the prison estate, funding an under-resourced probation service, providing more secure mental health beds and ensuring we have robust community sentences that the public have confidence in,' Mark Fairhurst said.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Justice Secretary announces ‘record prison expansion' to tackle overcrowding
Three new prisons will be built starting this year, as part of a 'record prison expansion', Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said, as the Government grapples with near-full jails. Ms Mahmood also announced a shake-up of prison recall measures which means prisoners serving between one and four years' jail time can be returned to prison only for 'a fixed 28-day period'. Offenders are recalled to prison if they commit another offence when they are released early but remain on licence. A standard recall currently results in offenders being taken back to prison for the remainder of their sentence, but this can be for shorter fixed-terms in some circumstances. The latest measures are aimed at dealing with the scale of the continuing crisis in prisons, as the latest weekly prison population in England and Wales stands at 88,087. This is 434 below the last peak in the prison population of 88,521 inmates on September 6, recorded just before the Government began freeing thousands of prisoners early as part of efforts to curb jail overcrowding. Amy Rees, the MoJ's interim permanent secretary, said the Government would 'run out of prison places in just five months' time', if further measures were not taken. 'On our current trajectory, the prison population rises by 3,000, and now we expect to hit zero capacity, to entirely run out of prison places for adult men, in November of this year,' the top civil servant added. Early release measures have 'only bought the service time', Ms Rees said, including the Government's decision to reduce early release to 40% of sentences. Justice Secretary Ms Mahmood said the latest prison-building initiative would be funded by a capital investment of £4.7 billion. Three new prisons will be build as a result of the cash, Ms Mahmood said, including 'breaking ground' on a site near HMP Gartree in Leicestershire 'later this year'. She added: 'This is a record prison expansion, and after the long delays under the last government, who allowed their backbenchers to block every project, we are building at breakneck pace.' The Justice Secretary also warned the recall population in prisons had 'more than doubled' in seven years, as she set out the latest measure to ease prison capacity. Some will be excluded from the scheme, 'including any offender who has been recalled for committing a serious further offence', according to Ms Mahmood. 'We also will exclude those who are subject to higher levels of risk management by multiple agencies where the police, prisons and probation services work together,' the Justice Secretary said. The fixed-term recall measures announced are expected to free up around 1,400 prison places, Ms Mahmood indicated.
