Nevada Department of Corrections
Encyclopedia
The Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) is a government
al agency in the U.S. state
of Nevada
. The NDOC headquarters
is located in Building 17 in the Stewart Facility in Carson City
.
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 nine major institutions; one restitution center; one re-entry center; 10 conservation camps; and one Boot Camp operated by the Department of Corrections.
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
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 in the Nevada State Prison
.
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
al agency in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The NDOC headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
is located in Building 17 in the Stewart Facility in Carson City
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
.
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 nine major institutions; one restitution center; one re-entry center; 10 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:- Maximum - This is the most restrictive custody level in the Department. These inmates may not exit their cells without constant, direct supervision. They have a very high potential for violence, and are generally segregated from one another.
- Close - This level is assigned to inmates who require housing in a very secure institution or who require frequent, direct supervision. These are inmates with a high potential for misconduct or escape.
- Medium - This is the largest custody category of inmates. This is the custody assigned to inmates who would be an escape risk if they were not inside a secure institution, but who are expected to behave without constant, direct supervision. These are the general population inmates of most of our institutions.
- Minimum - This custody is used for inmates who are not considered escape risks when supervised. When they are away from their assigned facility, they must be supervised by a State employee. The facilities they live in do not have gun towers or barrier fences.
- Community - This is the least restrictive level, and generally applies to inmates assigned to restitution centers or to State government jobs in Carson City. These inmates are not supervised when they are away from their assigned facility.
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
Death row
The death rowDeath row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
for men is located at Ely State Prison
Ely State Prison
Ely State Prison is a maximum security penitentiary located in unincorporated White Pine County, Nevada, north of Ely. The facility, operated by the Nevada Department of Corrections, opened in July 1989. Phase I was completed and opened in August of that year. Phase II was completed in the month of...
. The death row for women is in the Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center
Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center
The Florence McClure Women's Correctional Center in North Las Vegas, Nevada. All custody levels are housed there. It is operated by the Nevada Department of Corrections...
(previously Southern Nevada Women's Correctional Center). The execution chamber
Execution chamber
An execution chamber, or death chamber, is a room or chamber in which a legal execution is carried out. Execution chambers are almost always inside the walls of a maximum-security prison, although not always at the same prison where the death row population is housed...
is in the Nevada State Prison
Nevada State Prison
Nevada State Prison is a penitentiary located in Carson City. The prison has been in continuous operation since it was established in 1862 and is managed by the Nevada Department of Corrections. It is one of the oldest prisons still operating in the United States. The high security facility housed...
.
Facilities
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the Nevada Department of Corrections, two officers have died in the line of duty.See also
- List of United States state correction agencies
- List of law enforcement agencies in Nevada
- Denver S. DickersonDenver S. DickersonDenver Sylvester Dickerson was an American politician. He was the 11th Governor of Nevada from 1908 to 1911. A member of the Silver – Democratic coalition party, he had previously held office as the 13th Lieutenant Governor of Nevada from 1907 to 1908...