THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN
THE VINDICATOR, YOUNGSTOWN
By ROGER G. SMITHand DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITERS
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city asked the question but got the answer it didn't want: The private prison could close as soon as Aug. 18 if it doesn't get more inmates.
The prison's warden, however, said this morning the company will keep trying to get a new inmate contract to keep the facility open. Even if the prison closes, it could reopen when the company gets another contract, he said.
The city received the 120-day notice Friday evening from Corrections Corporation of America that the prison company's Northeast Ohio Correctional Center could close in August, said Law Director Robert Bush Jr.
The letter says simply that as per its court-approved contract with the city, notice is given the prison will close in August.
"That's it. That's all it says," Bush said.
City's letter: On April 19 the city sent CCA a letter asking what the company's intentions were because more inmates were leaving and not being replaced. The city reminded the company about the 120-day required notice.
Closing the prison was never discussed with company officials, Bush said.
"No, sir. It was never brought up," he said.
There has been no problem letting CCA cut its work force at NOCC as it has requested, both sides said.
The prison plans to keep working on getting a contract with another state or the federal government before the 120 days expire, said Warden Brian Gardner.
"That's our No. 1 priority," he said.
Even if the prison has to close, the company will work on getting another contract and reopen the facility, Gardner said.
CCA may try to bring in female prisoners, within guidelines of its contract with the city.
"An inmate is an inmate," Gardner said.
No inmates higher than medium security are allowed under the contract.
Reasons for notice: CCA gave the notice for two reasons, he said:
* The 2,106-bed prison has only about 350 inmates left as of last week. That is down from 574 just three weeks ago.
* The Federal Bureau of Prisons, which controls the inmates at NOCC, announced Thursday it has another prison ready to open. That means more NOCC inmates could be pulled out and sent elsewhere.
NOCC employees have been offered jobs in other CCA prisons and could move back if the prison closes and reopens, Gardner said.
CCA must return any inmates back to Washington, D.C., where they came from, under the contract. The city would get the land back
Economic blow: Youngstown Mayor George M. McKelvey said the prison closing would be devastating economically. "They are one of the largest employers in the city. We're hopeful this notice is a proactive approach and they'll find contracts and fill the facility. Prison officials tell me they are guardedly optimistic that they can get more prisoners."
The prison has an annual payroll of about $11 million and paid the city $250,000 in income tax last year. But the prison announced plans last month to reduce its staff of 449 workers by 45 percent, or 200 workers. That would cut the city's income tax collections by more than $112,000.
The demand for space at the privately run prison is not as great as anticipated, McKelvey said.
"The city will do everything it can to save that facility," McKelvey said. "I'm willing to work on any initiative that would lead to full employment at the facility. I have no preference if it is CCA, another private operator, the state or the federal government."
Critic's reaction: State Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, a longtime vocal critic of the Youngstown private prison, said he had a "half-smile, half-frown" upon hearing the news about the potential closing.
"It's sort of like the feeling of 'I told you so,' but I'm really worried about the jobs," he said. "I don't know how people based the economic future of the city on private prisons. We should have talked about high-tech jobs. We were fooled by false promises."
Hagan, D-33rd, said he will discuss the potential closing today with Gov. Bob Taft, but acknowledges there may be nothing the state can do about it.
"I'm reluctant to say the state should jump in," he said. "This is a devastating blow to the Mahoning Valley."