CO Opens New High Security Prison
A new high security prison in Canon City is preparing to open its doors to problem prisoners and officials say the new facility is long overdue. The Centennial Correctional Facility is located in east Canon City. The facility was approved by legislature in 2002, but several lawsuits and budget cuts delayed construction until 2007. Reported in the Colorado Connection.
Wednesday the Colorado Department of Corrections (DOC) held a dedication ceremony for the new facility. For prisoners the Centennial Correctional Facility is the end of the line.
“This is a 24 hour a day lock down. We have a five level security classifications system. This is level five which is the highest level,” said Ari Zavaras, Executive Director of the DOC.
Officials say prisoners who are problems at other facilities will end up in single cells at the Centennial Correctional Facility.
“Individuals that come into this setting do what we call in the system earn their way into this facility. It’s by their behavior as opposed to what their crime was,” said Zavaras.
The facility has 948 high security beds in three towers. But because they are so expensive to run, only one tower will open in September.
Zavaras says to operate one tower costs a little over $10 million. Each tower holds 316 high security beds and the one that is opening will be filled to capacity almost immediately.
“We’ve had a backup in our high security beds so we’ll be able to get some of those individuals who are backed into facilities right now into this facility and start the programming,” said Zavaras.
Attorney General John Suthers says the need for this facility goes back to 2001. “Make no mistake about it, anyone who knows this business knows that adequate high security beds are absolutely essential to the proper and safe functioning of an effective Department of Corrections,” said Suthers.
Officials say the goal of the Centennial Correctional Facility is to teach problem prisoners better behavior and prepare them to return to society as a contributing member.
The Centennial Correctional Facility will officially open on September 1.They will accept 15 prisoners a day until capacity is reached.
Uncategorized