In response to a rise in the incarcerated population in North Dakota, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) has implemented an inmate admission prioritization plan. The number of incarcerated men has exceeded the DOCR’s operational capacity, leading to reliance on county jail partners for additional bed space. Partner facilities are now at full capacity, resulting in a waiting list for new admissions into the DOCR system. As a result, the DOCR has activated its prioritization plan, allowing for a temporary halt in admissions when capacity limits are exceeded.
The prioritization plan enables the DOCR to refuse inmates if their intake would surpass available space and funding allocations for housing inmates in external facilities. The plan focuses on admitting individuals convicted of violent Class AA, A, and B felony offenses to prioritize public safety. The DOCR Director, Colby Braun, emphasized that public safety remains the top priority during this phase.
The maximum operational capacity for DOCR facilities is currently set at 1,624 for men and 262 for women. If the average daily inmate population exceeds these limits in any given month, the DOCR will continue to implement the admission prioritization plan the following month. The DOCR is working to manage the overflow in collaboration with county jail partners, while ensuring that public safety remains a priority.
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