Dear John,
Since 2000, 21 states have fully or partially closed at least one correctional facility and reduced correctional capacity in the United States by 81,444 prison beds, according to a new report released today by The Sentencing Project. This reduction in capacity reflects decades of work to reduce imprisonment rates in this country and growing public recognition that mass incarceration has not been a successful public safety strategy.
Repurposing Correctional Facilities to Strengthen Communities illustrates both positive outcomes and challenges faced in accomplishing decarceration and community reinvestment goals through the closure and repurposing of correctional facilities. Examples of prison reuse projects include:
- Michigan: The minimum-security Ojibway Correctional Facility planned reuse for business redevelopment.
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New York: Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, a closed medium-security prison, has been repurposed as a movie and television studio while the minimum- security Mid-Orange Correctional Facility is being reused as a business park.
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Tennessee: Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, a former maximum-security prison, has been repurposed as a whisky distillery and campgrounds.
- Texas: The minimum-security Dawson State Jail planned reuse as a nonprofit office and community space.
- Virginia: The maximum-security Lorton Reformatory has been repurposed to a mixed-use development of housing and retail space.
Prison closures from New York to Tennessee offer public safety approaches to redirect corrections spending to fully fund crime prevention efforts led by community stakeholders through substantial investments at the local and state level. This emerging trend is an exciting advancement and critical next step in building stronger and healthier communities and ending mass incarceration. Click here to read the full report.
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