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RC prison two-thirds full nowBy MaryHelen Swanson Forty prisoners arrived last week from St. Cloud. Offenders in the Minnesota Corrections system are moved around facilities, with all new offenders starting their sentences at St. Cloud. The 600 figure includes 75 INS detainees (Immigration and Naturalization Service). INS pays the DOC (Department of Corrections) $75 a day for each detainee. They are treated the same as the other offenders. When more offenders arrive, it means that the other state prisons are full, and that is the case at this time. Why? According to Warden Bert Mohs, February, March and April are high months for sentencing. Even so, he told the community liaison group at the prison last week, it is higher than usual for some reason. Complex 4, at the correctional facility is full of state prisoners: 275. Complex 2 is half full: 138. These are parole violators. The other half of Complex 2 opened last week. With all the new inmates, new staff has been added. Twenty-two new corrections officers recently completed training. Eighteen more are starting the six-week training now. A recent help wanted ad, Mohs said, brought in 170 calls in one week. Most of the 22 hired are from the local area, he said, but added that some are transfers who might possibly be relocating to the area. Even with the new COs, Warden Mohs said they will be short staffed until May. The facility does not operate short staffed with the offenders, however; staff will be taken from other areas to fill in for the security positions. The staff now numbers 230; when the facility is full, there will be 319 staff members. Besides the COs, the facility will be hiring three RNs, one teacher and one teaching assistant. Speaking as a member of the community liaison group, Rush City Schools Superintendent Tim Eklund asked if this news means that there is thought to construction of an additional building. Mohs reminded the group that this is not a bonding year at the legislature so it wouldnít come up. He also noted that the DOC is already adding an additional unit at the Lino Lakes medium security facility. On hand for last weekís meeting was Sen. Twyla Ring. She asked Warden Mohs about the design of the facility. Mohs said it was good, but noted that even before itís full, the education area will be too small. It is right now, he said, noting that they are currently holding day and evening classes. Sen. Ring asked about the industry at the prison. But sitting in their cells is not good, Mohs said, heíd be happier if he had 150 working. Keeping the inmates busy is not only good for them, but good for management of the facility, Mohs said. Visitations are up, however, at Rush City. so much so, they will probably need to go to five days. On an average, there are 40 visitors a day. There is a two-hour cap on visitation time. Rush City Administrator Daniel Hoffman asked about the affects of state budget cuts. ìWe canít cut any more on security,î Mohs said. Already down to a much leaner budget than three years ago, Mohs said if they have to, programs would be cut. But programs, he noted, give offenders skills, education and treatment, such as chemical dependency programs. Recidivism (offenders returning after being released) would go down, Mohs said. He noted that while the 20-year-olds at the facility may be in for 20 years, many of them will be leaving. When offenders have a lot of down time, he said, itís not good. ©ECM Post Review |