Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center
Encyclopedia
The Vernon C. Bain Center (VCBC) is an 800-bed jail barge
used to hold inmates for New York City
as part of the New York City Department of Corrections as part of the vast Rikers Island
jail complex. Built in New Orleans for $161 million and brought to New York in 1992 to reduce overcrowding in the island's land-bound buildings for a lower price under a David Dinkins
-led crime initiative, it is designed to handle inmates from medium- to maximum-security in 16 dormitories and 100 cells. Due to the facility being on the water, a minimum of three maritime crew is maintained under Coast Guard regulations.
It was opened in 1992 and was named for Vernon C. Bain, a warden who died in a car accident. In the same accident Officer Theresa M. Brown and her nine year old daughter Tracy Hope Diaz, were severely injured. It has been used by the city of New York
as a prison, but has also temporarily held juvenile inmates.
Prison ship
A prison ship, historically sometimes called a prison hulk, is a vessel used as a prison, often to hold convicts awaiting transportation to penal colonies. This practice was popular with the British government in the 18th and 19th centuries....
used to hold inmates for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as part of the New York City Department of Corrections as part of the vast Rikers Island
Rikers Island
Rikers Island is New York City's main jail complex, as well as the name of the island on which it sits, in the East River between Queens and the mainland Bronx, adjacent to the runways of LaGuardia Airport. The island itself is part of the borough of the Bronx, though it is included as part of...
jail complex. Built in New Orleans for $161 million and brought to New York in 1992 to reduce overcrowding in the island's land-bound buildings for a lower price under a David Dinkins
David Dinkins
David Norman Dinkins is a former politician from New York City. He was the Mayor of New York City from 1990 through 1993; he was the first and is, to date, the only African American to hold that office.-Early life:...
-led crime initiative, it is designed to handle inmates from medium- to maximum-security in 16 dormitories and 100 cells. Due to the facility being on the water, a minimum of three maritime crew is maintained under Coast Guard regulations.
It was opened in 1992 and was named for Vernon C. Bain, a warden who died in a car accident. In the same accident Officer Theresa M. Brown and her nine year old daughter Tracy Hope Diaz, were severely injured. It has been used by the city of New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
as a prison, but has also temporarily held juvenile inmates.
Sources
- Official history of NYDoC
- Tug44 (includes photographs)