Prison director corrects testimony on Nevada State Prison

Director of Corrections Howard Skolnik said Wednesday he gave the commission studying the administration of justice in Nevada bad information Monday when he said one unit at Nevada State Prison requires 15 guards to fully control 97 inmates.

He said the actual staffing in that unit is basically five guards.

After Skolnik's statement was printed Tuesday, numerous prison employees called to complain saying the data was incorrect. Skolnik said he agrees but that it doesn't change the dollar numbers presented to the commission headed by Supreme Court Justice James Hardesty.

He said it costs $19,275 per inmate a year at NSP because of the century old design of the prison. That compares to just $13,400 per inmate at the much newer inmate units at High Desert Correctional Center in southern Nevada.

"Those numbers are accurate," he said.

And Skolnik said the primary cost difference is in guard staffing.

"The old cells are the most labor intensive," he said.

He presented the data as part of his justification for proposing NSP be closed down. Closing the prison, he has said, would save a total of $18 million a year.

But the plan isn't to simply close NSP. It would be shut in phases with the lower yard, the oldest part of the prison, closing first.

In trade, he has proposed expanding the core facilities at Warm Springs prison next door to accommodate the inmates who would still be housed in the newer upper units at NSP. Then, when the state builds new housing units at Warm Springs, those last NSP units would be shut down.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.