Warm Springs Correctional Center in Carson City shuttering due to staffing shortages
CARSON CITY, Nev. (KRNV) — Warm Springs Correctional Center in Carson City is temporarily closing in an effort to increase safety and security while reducing overtime, the Nevada Department of Corrections announced on Monday.
Starting in December, nearly all the offenders at Warm Springs Correctional Center will be moved to the nearby Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City without the loss of privileges or programming, according to NDOC.
“Placing WSCC into a sustained temporary closure and distributing personnel to other institutions will allow for safer conditions for both staff and offenders,” said Acting Director William Gittere. “The increase in staffing at the other institutions will improve our ability to meet Constitutional and state law requirements related to the effective management of the offender population. Decreased overtime directly improves work stress and fatigue, which will be a key factor in the improvement to the quality of life and retention of staff.”
NDOC said no jobs will be lost and employees will not be transferred outside the regional unless they volunteer.
Staffing shortages have plagued state prisons in Nevada. Vacancies at facilities across northern Nevada average between 47% and 52%, according to a spokeswoman from the department.
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The department estimates the plan will save the state approximately $14 million annually in overtime and operational costs.
Warm Springs was built in 1961 and operated as the Nevada Women's Correctional Center until 1997 before it was converted to a medium-security men's prison.
NDOC reiterated the prison will be closed temporarily. They did not release a reopening date.
