Northern Nevada Correctional Center
Encyclopedia
Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) and Stewart Conservation Camp (SCC) are part of a prison complex located in Carson City
. The correctional center was established in 1964 and is managed by the Nevada Department of Corrections
. The medium security center housed 1,444 male and 9 female inmates as of September 2010. It is designed with a capacity for 1,619 inmates and employs a staff of 373 as of 2008.
The adjacent Stewart Conservation Camp was opened in 1978 and is designed for 240 minimum security inmates who support the Nevada Division of Forestry with wildfire suppression and conservation efforts. The camp housed 328 male inmates and was budgeted for a total capacity of 350 as of September 2010.
(NSP), also in Carson City, which was the only state penitentiary for many decades, underwent expansion in the early 1960s. The result was a second facility in Carson City that would become known as Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC). The correctional center was opened in 1964 with three housing units. An interesting fact is that the Correctional Center was to operate as a treatment center rather than a traditional lockdown facility. Staff members did not wear uniforms, instead wearing casual attire the staff interacted closly with inmates. Inmates addressed staff by thier first names. This was an experiment in corrections that had never been done in Nevada. In contrast to Nevadas only other prison, Nevada State Prison, NNCC was created to treat the inmates underlying problems that lead to incarceration. Emphasis was placed on drug and alcohol treatment, education and restoring family ties. This was evident by the lounge style visiting room and dedicated education building, both are still in use today. By 2008, seven additional units were constructed.
and comedian Tom Dreesen
performed at the gymnasium of the correctional center for the inmates. Harrah's Reno
provided an orchestra to support the event.
In May 1984, the Nevada State Press Association honored inmate Gerald Crane as the local best newspaper columnist for his work in the Nevada Appeal
. Crane had been writing his "Being There" column while incarcerated at the correctional center for bank robbery and kidnapping; he was unable to attend the award ceremony.
In October 1989, 48-year-old Kenneth James Meller took Dr. Karen Gedney hostage in the prison infirmary. Officers used a flashbang grenade to stun Meller and storm the room after negotiation efforts did not succeed. Meller was shot to death by the officers and Gedney was rescued unharmed.
In 2004, a prison guard was prosecuted for impregnating a female inmate. The American Civil Liberties Union
protested the decision to also prosecute the inmate.
In August 2005, a dental technician and another corrections employee were fired after they were determined by officials to be involved in the escape
of inmate Jody Thompson.
The Regional Medical Facility for the Nevada Department of Corrections is located at the site.
plant was constructed at the correctional center to utilize renewable energy
. However, the power plant was closed in September 2010 after it was found to be adding to the facility's energy costs. According to Jeff Mohlenkamp, deputy director of support services for the Nevada Department of Corrections: "This was a project that was well intentioned, but not well implemented."
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
. The correctional center was established in 1964 and is managed by the Nevada Department of Corrections
Nevada Department of Corrections
The Nevada Department of Corrections is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Nevada. The NDOC headquarters is located in Building 17 in the Stewart Facility in Carson City.-History:...
. The medium security center housed 1,444 male and 9 female inmates as of September 2010. It is designed with a capacity for 1,619 inmates and employs a staff of 373 as of 2008.
The adjacent Stewart Conservation Camp was opened in 1978 and is designed for 240 minimum security inmates who support the Nevada Division of Forestry with wildfire suppression and conservation efforts. The camp housed 328 male inmates and was budgeted for a total capacity of 350 as of September 2010.
History
Nevada State PrisonNevada State Prison
Nevada State Prison is a penitentiary located in Carson City. The prison has been in continuous operation since it was established in 1862 and is managed by the Nevada Department of Corrections. It is one of the oldest prisons still operating in the United States. The high security facility housed...
(NSP), also in Carson City, which was the only state penitentiary for many decades, underwent expansion in the early 1960s. The result was a second facility in Carson City that would become known as Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC). The correctional center was opened in 1964 with three housing units. An interesting fact is that the Correctional Center was to operate as a treatment center rather than a traditional lockdown facility. Staff members did not wear uniforms, instead wearing casual attire the staff interacted closly with inmates. Inmates addressed staff by thier first names. This was an experiment in corrections that had never been done in Nevada. In contrast to Nevadas only other prison, Nevada State Prison, NNCC was created to treat the inmates underlying problems that lead to incarceration. Emphasis was placed on drug and alcohol treatment, education and restoring family ties. This was evident by the lounge style visiting room and dedicated education building, both are still in use today. By 2008, seven additional units were constructed.
Media coverage
On January 7, 1982, singer Sammy Davis, Jr.Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
and comedian Tom Dreesen
Tom Dreesen
Tom Dreesen is an American stand-up comedian.Dreesen grew up in Harvey, Illinois, south of Chicago. His family was one of the few white families in a largely African American community...
performed at the gymnasium of the correctional center for the inmates. Harrah's Reno
Harrah's Reno
Harrah's Reno is a hotel casino in Reno, Nevada. Harrah's Reno is credited for being Harrahs Entertainment's first hotel when the company was owned by its founder William F. Harrah.-History:...
provided an orchestra to support the event.
In May 1984, the Nevada State Press Association honored inmate Gerald Crane as the local best newspaper columnist for his work in the Nevada Appeal
Nevada Appeal
The Nevada Appeal is a daily newspaper published in Carson City, Nevada by Swift Communications. The paper is available in six regional editions across northern Nevada and eastern California:*Lahontan Valley News...
. Crane had been writing his "Being There" column while incarcerated at the correctional center for bank robbery and kidnapping; he was unable to attend the award ceremony.
Incidents
In 1987 The National Guard was called to NNCC to racially integrate the facility. The troops were positioned throughout the prison yard, atop of the housing units, and beside the traditional staff as inmates were given thier new bed assignments. To date each dorm held 12 inmates that belonged to the same ethnic group. Due to recent court decisions then Department of Prisons was forced to integrate at least one inmate belonging to another ethnic group into each dorm. It was believed that the inmates would not accept these changes. Rumors were rampant of widespread riots and violence against both staff and those being integrated. The final outcome was much less sensational. One inmate barked at a guard dog and was transferred to the maximum security prison for the infraction of creating a distubance.In October 1989, 48-year-old Kenneth James Meller took Dr. Karen Gedney hostage in the prison infirmary. Officers used a flashbang grenade to stun Meller and storm the room after negotiation efforts did not succeed. Meller was shot to death by the officers and Gedney was rescued unharmed.
In 2004, a prison guard was prosecuted for impregnating a female inmate. The American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
protested the decision to also prosecute the inmate.
In August 2005, a dental technician and another corrections employee were fired after they were determined by officials to be involved in the escape
Prison escape
A prison escape or prison break is the act of an inmate leaving prison through unofficial or illegal ways. Normally, when this occurs, an effort is made on the part of authorities to recapture them and return them to their original detainers...
of inmate Jody Thompson.
Facilities
Silver State Industries operates the prison manufacturing program at Northern Nevada Correctional Center. Services include metal, paint, wood and upholstery shops. Vocational programs include auto mechanics, computers, and dry cleaning. Educational services are provided by the Carson City School District and Western Nevada Community College.The Regional Medical Facility for the Nevada Department of Corrections is located at the site.
Energy usage
In 2007, a $7.7 million biomass fuelBiofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
plant was constructed at the correctional center to utilize renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
. However, the power plant was closed in September 2010 after it was found to be adding to the facility's energy costs. According to Jeff Mohlenkamp, deputy director of support services for the Nevada Department of Corrections: "This was a project that was well intentioned, but not well implemented."
Notable inmates
| Inmate | Number | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillip C. Garrido Kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard The kidnapping of Jaycee Lee Dugard occurred on June 10, 1991 in South Lake Tahoe, California. Dugard was 11 years old at the time and was abducted from a street while she was walking from home to a school bus stop. Searches began immediately after the kidnapping, but no reliable leads were generated... |
12954 | Transferred on August 26, 1988 | Sexual assault Sexual assault Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children.... |
| John "Jack" Sidote Ginny Foat Virginia "Ginny" Foat is an American politician and feminist. Foat was acquitted in 1983 of having participated in a 1965 murder committed by her then-husband, but the publicity derailed her activist career at the time... |
13157 | Released on July 11, 1985 | Murder Murder Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide... |
| Clarence "C.J." Stewart | 1028070 | Eligible for parole Parole Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their... on October 2, 2013 |
Assault Assault In law, assault is a crime causing a victim to fear violence. The term is often confused with battery, which involves physical contact. The specific meaning of assault varies between countries, but can refer to an act that causes another to apprehend immediate and personal violence, or in the more... , burglary Burglary Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary... , conspiracy Conspiracy (crime) In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement... , kidnapping Kidnapping In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority... |
External links
- Northern Nevada Correctional Center at the Nevada Department of CorrectionsNevada Department of CorrectionsThe Nevada Department of Corrections is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Nevada. The NDOC headquarters is located in Building 17 in the Stewart Facility in Carson City.-History:...
(Official site) - Stewart Conservation Camp at the Nevada Department of CorrectionsNevada Department of CorrectionsThe Nevada Department of Corrections is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Nevada. The NDOC headquarters is located in Building 17 in the Stewart Facility in Carson City.-History:...
(Official site)