Overcrowding Could Cost Nevada Almost $2 Billion

CARSON CITY, Nev. — If Nevada plans to keep up with its rapidly increasing inmate population, it will need to spend $1.91 billion to build new prisons during the next eight years and boost the number of prison employees, according to reports.

The state’s prison population rose 1,300 in the past year with the female inmate population increasing by 18 percent, and the inmate-to-staff ratio increasing to dangerous levels, according to corrections officials. If the state fails to address these issues, it could face legal challenges in federal courts, which could force mandated changes.

The number of violent offenders and drug offenders is increasing, because of stricter laws that impose longer sentences, according to officials.

The state’s Department of Corrections has proposed several options for handling the rise in prison populations, including big increases in future budgets. The budget requested for the next two years is $120 million more than the current budget, with officials requesting $300 million in prison construction, maintenance and plumbing, and $335 million for 353 additional correctional officer positions.

Projected budget needs through 2015, not calculating inflation, include $900 million for three more prisons, $245 million in expanded housing units and two conservation camps priced at $60 million apiece.

Under the plan, 560 beds would be added at High Desert men’s prison in southern Nevada and capacity at the women’s prison would be doubled to hold more than 800 beds.

Conditions at some prisons are overcrowded with maximum-security inmates sharing cells and some inmates sleeping in gymnasiums.

Another suggestion for lowering recidivism is increasing substance-abuse treatment programs. About 40 percent of convicted felons in Nevada end up back in prison, according to officials. With the improvement and addition of drug and alcohol treatment programs, officials expect to lower this number.

Officials are also considering working with state legislators to shorten sentences, which would keep low-risk offenders out of prison.