State's privately-run juvenile prison closes today

With the last eight boys gone, the state's juvenile prison Summit View in North Las Vegas officially shuts its doors today.

The facility designed to hold some of Nevada's tougher, more dangerous juvenile offenders was built to be operated by a private contractor. But Correctional Services Corp. canceled its contract to operate the center effective March 1, saying it wasn't making a profit.

Of the 38 inmates at Summit View, 14 were paroled in Las Vegas and one was headed home out of state.

Ten of the most serious offenders were sent to a secure detention facility in Tennessee.

Eight are now in facilities operated by Rite of Passage in Northern Nevada.

The remaining five youths were sent to treatment programs for drug and alcohol abuse or mental health problems, including for sex offenses.

State officials complained that Correctional Services had a high turnover and problems with training and conduct by the employees at the center. In one case, two female staff members had sexual relations with several inmates. In addition, there was one escape attempt last year.

But the company said it was canceling the contract because it is paid per inmate day and just didn't have enough inmates in the facility to make it profitable.