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Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts) Fri Oct 10, 2014, 01:25 AM Oct 2014

Long-empty jail taking in American Indian inmates

Source: Associated Press

Long-empty jail taking in American Indian inmates
By MATTHEW BROWN, Associated Press | October 8, 2014 | Updated: October 9, 2014 6:58pm

HARDIN, Mont. (AP) — A Montana town that once offered to take in suspected terrorists from Guantanamo Bay out of desperation to fill an empty, $27 million jail has finally started to fill its cells with American Indian inmates from across the Northern Plains.

The Two Rivers Regional Detention Facility in Hardin was built in 2007 on hopes it would boost an economically-depressed area of southeast Montana bordering the Crow Indian Reservation.

But it suffered a series of failures after Montana prison officials said the jail wouldn't suit their needs. Hardin officials in 2009 sought unsuccessfully to take in detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. They later partnered with a California con man, Michael Hilton, who promised to turn the jail into a paramilitary training site until his criminal background was revealed by The Associated Press and other news organizations.

Now local officials said they at last have found a legitimate and reliable operator for the 464-bed jail in Emerald Correctional Management, a Louisiana-based private corrections company.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Long-empty-jail-taking-in-American-Indian-inmates-5810785.php

9 replies

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Highlight:

Long-empty jail taking in American Indian inmates (Original Post) Judi Lynn Oct 2014 OP

legitimate, reliable and private corrections company rpannier Oct 2014 #1

Seconded Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #2

Low-wage guards. Jackpine Radical Oct 2014 #7

That too Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #8

I question the taking 'American Indian inmates from across the Northern Plains' part, plus... freshwest Oct 2014 #3

Since it is designated for native Americans it will need constant replenishment with...native Monk06 Oct 2014 #4

Reduce the boondogle to rubble. JEB Oct 2014 #5

I so agree Private companies lovuian Oct 2014 #6

'for profit' prison dedicated to lock-ups native americans. 700% increase USA prison pop. in 20 yrs Sunlei Oct 2014 #9

rpannier

(24,329 posts)

1. legitimate, reliable and private corrections company

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 01:48 AM

Oct 2014

sorry don't go together

Prophet 451

(9,796 posts)

2. Seconded

Reply to rpannier (Reply #1)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 02:52 AM

Oct 2014

The states already do prisons about as cheap as it's possible to do them so the only way for a private company to make money is to cut corners: Less guards, less food or cheaper, less nutritious food, less meds for the inmates who need them, etc.

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)

7. Low-wage guards.

Reply to Prophet 451 (Reply #2)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 02:03 PM

Oct 2014

That's why so many private prison guards creatively supplement their incomes by smuggling in interesting substances in condoms up their bungholes.

Prophet 451

(9,796 posts)

8. That too

Reply to Jackpine Radical (Reply #7)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 03:15 PM

Oct 2014

Also assures that they'll get the guards who really shouldn't be guards.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

3. I question the taking 'American Indian inmates from across the Northern Plains' part, plus...

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 03:53 AM

Oct 2014

Opinion:

It's not good for inmates to be removed out of state, far from family to do it on the cheap. They'll be released one day and a long separation makes reconciliation back to family and community harder. Also puts undue burden on their family.

Opinion and questions.

The place is an enterprise for grifters. It used the color of government power for private profit. This is wrong.

Something is wrong in MT. They didn't care what they put in the facility. Why build a prison at all? Why not build a manufacturing plant if they did it for jobs?

AFAIK, MT is not the crime capitol of the Plains. There was no need other than money. The idea this was patriotism, save guys from Gitmo claim rings hollow to me, if that's their excuse.

No doubt the town is stuck with a ton of bond debt for this POS. Bad goverance.

Question and opinion.

It's on the edge of the Crow Indian Reservation. Are these jobs for them? Do they think they can help all these natives out of whatever has deviled them into prison?

That gives a redeeming value, but being owned by an out of state company makes it smell bad. It may be another way to rip off the locals.

JMHO.

Monk06

(7,675 posts)

4. Since it is designated for native Americans it will need constant replenishment with...native

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 05:33 AM

Oct 2014

Americans.

Look for targeted prosecutions of said native Americans in order to assure that this private prison turns a profit.

JEB

(4,748 posts)

5. Reduce the boondogle to rubble.

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 12:17 PM

Oct 2014

We have too many prisons and too many prisoners in this country.

lovuian

(19,362 posts)

6. I so agree Private companies

Reply to JEB (Reply #5)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 12:29 PM

Oct 2014

running prisons is so wrong

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)

9. 'for profit' prison dedicated to lock-ups native americans. 700% increase USA prison pop. in 20 yrs

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Fri Oct 10, 2014, 03:41 PM

Oct 2014

An industry, 'for profit' prison businesses takes billions of state and federal money (will be our federal money given to 'for profit' prisons to lock-up Native Americans).

Think in another 10 years the USA will have 1,000% increase in our 'for profit' prison pops with the bonanza of 'for profit' immigrant prisons and 'native American' specialized prison.

Just like Gov paid healthcare, Americas prison system should be 'non profit' get rid of those middlemen profiteers.

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