North Dakota Department of Corrections Building ‘Mini’ Prisons

The North Dakota prison system has been struggling with an overcrowding issue for some time now.

According to Inforum, officials are working to help offset the overcrowding problem, by building four "mini" prisons all around the state. These new facilities will allow for approximately 300 extra beds.

The source says the North Dakota prison system has been operating with 200 inmates over capacity for years.

This year, the North Dakota prisons have been awarded $37 million. This funding will help to purchase overflow housing.

Coming Soon:

The source says $1.6 million is being set aside for a new reentry facility (NW North Dakota, possibly Minot or Williston). This would have 25 beds for individuals who are wrapping up their sentences.

"Man Camps" (Overflow housing within the Missouri River Correctional Center) to allow for 72 - 96 inmates to be housed. Temporary shelters will be used until the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation can procure long-term buildings. $8 million is being allocated to this specific project.

The DOCR has also set aside $27 million to contract with local and regional jails for more overflow housing. For example, they plan to staff and operate a a new section of the Grand Forks Jail, which would open up 60 to 72 new beds.

Similarly, they hope to make a arrangement with the Burleigh County Detention Center. There is an unused housing unit, they would like to utilize for overflow.

There are a lot of things still to do and finalize, but officials say they expect to have the new facilities up and running and contracts squared away by next summer or fall.