States Projected to Spend Big on Construction
PORTER, Texas — The Rose Report has recently issued its 2012 corrections construction projections for projects in the U.S, and many states have big plans.
North Carolina
Walker County, Texas Begins Preliminary Planning for New Jail
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — Walker County’s Commissioner’s Court took preliminary steps toward repairing or replacing its jail in mid-February after receiving a feasibility study on its existing facility from Burns Architecture LLC. The county will next organize public forums and invite comments on whether to hold a bond election or issue certificates of obligation.
Read moreTexas Forms New Juvenile Department
HOUSTON, Texas — The Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission are being replaced by a new agency intended to bring positive changes to the department.
The new agency is still in its initial phases and looking for a new executive director who will be appointed next month. The two agencies will be molded into one overall department that will account for all juvenile offenders in the state of Texas.
Read moreIowa Facing Serious Overcrowding
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa was able to restore its prison system after letting the prison population get out of hand in the 1970s — but now is falling back into dangerously familiar territory.
Extra Courthouse Funds Approved
AUSTIN, Texas — The Travis County Commissioners Court recently approved construction funding and discussed building operations regarding the new courthouse and administrative offices on Lavaca Street.
The court approved an additional $1.7 million for work on the lower level and first two floors.
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Texas May Privatize All State Jails
AUSTIN, Texas — House lawmakers are considering a plan to privatize all state prisons housing low-level felony offenders, a move they say could save the state up to $40 million.
New Execution Drug Causes Uproar
AUSTIN, Texas — A Danish company that has become a key supplier of an execution drug in the U.S. says it will not withdraw or restrict it, even though it objects to the drug being “misused” for capital punishment.
Lundbeck A/S is doing “all we can” to dissuade U.S. states from using pentobarbital for lethal injections, but won’t pull it from the U.S. market, CEO Ulf Wiinberg said.
Pentobarbital is a sedative used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including epileptic seizures.
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Texas Considers Cell Phone Jamming
BEAUMONT, Texas.
— Texas prison authorities say they are considering jamming cell phones after an inmate used a contraband cell phone to escape from prison.
Read moreTexas County to Build New Jail
CORYELL COUNTY, Texas — Commissioners in Coryell County, Texas approved the construction of a new jail to help alleviate overcrowding. The current 92-bed capacity jail is approximately 50 beds short of the number needed to house the inmate population by 2027.
San Antonio architectural firm DRG presented plans for a 64,000-square-foot building that would increase the capacity to 240 beds.
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GEO Nabs Immigration Detainee Contract
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Private prison operator The GEO Group was awarded a contract for the housing of up to 600 immigration detainees by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service, or ICE. Officials in Karnes County Texas officials awarded the contract, and GEO Group expects to generate $15 million in annual revenues.
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