Hundreds of state’s most violent offenders moving to prison outside Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - The most violent offenders in Nevada’s prison system will be moving to a prison just outside of Las Vegas. That includes all of Nevada’s death row according to the head of a prison guard union.

After the escape of a convicted murderer two years ago, FOX5′s Kim Passoth has gone inside one of the two prisons in Indian Springs just outside Las Vegas. Wednesday, she heard concerns about this major prisoner swap.

“Do you think it would be fair to say that the worst of the worst are housed in Ely right now?,” Passoth asked Paul Lunkwitz, President of FOP Nevada, C.L. Lodge 21.

“Yeah. You have death row, you have maximum security inmates that are assaultive...They are not playing to hurt you they are playing to kill you,” Lunkwitz contended.

Three inmates were killed just weeks ago during just one of several violent incidents at Ely State Prison about three and a half hours north of Vegas. Why move the most dangerous offenders down to Las Vegas area? Staffing shortages.

The entire town of Ely only has about 1,100 people and is the biggest by far in the area.

“Ely has notoriously been the most difficult prison to staff,” Lunkwitz revealed.

The plan? Move the maximum security inmates to High Desert State Prison just outside Indian Springs where staffing is much better.

“Recently, we have seen massive growth in the ability to hire...Most of the prisons in Vegas are almost full as far as staffing is concerned,” Lunkwitz shared.

Lunkwitz doesn’t have a problem with the idea of the switch but says the speed at which it is being done poses a critical safety issue for corrections officers.

“They are going about this in a very fast and unsafe manner,” Lunkwitz argued.

The two Indian Springs prisons were thrown into the spotlight two years ago when a convicted murderer escaped the Southern Desert Correctional Center. Lunkwitz said it just nearly happened again this week.

“We had an attempted escape yesterday (Tuesday) with the protective custody inmates at High Desert... Guess what wasn’t manned? The tower in the area where it took place. Thank god, they recognized him and people were able to apprehend him before it got farther,” Lunkwitz stated.

Here are the numbers we got of how many inmates will be impacted according to Lunkwitz.

• 500-700 from Ely, maximum security offenders, will be transferred to the Vegas area
• 1300 to 1400 from High Desert, lower tier offenders, will be going up to Ely

The Nevada Department of Corrections confirmed that both prisons will change their custody levels to increase safety. Ely will be dropped to a medium-security prison, while High Desert will be designated a maximum-security institution.

Here is their statement to FOX5:

In an effort to increase the safety of both staff and offenders, the Nevada Department of Corrections is announcing a shift in custody levels of two of its prisons. Offenders from Ely State Prison – the state’s highest level maximum-security institution – will be transported to High Desert State Prison near Las Vegas. A selection of offenders from High Desert State Prison will be moved to Ely State Prison. Ely State Prison will transition to medium security, while High Desert State Prison will be designated as a maximum-security institution. The change will ensure the highest-risk offenders be housed where staffing levels are greater, and the institution is closer to outside law-enforcement and medical services, if necessary. High Desert State Prison is also a newer facility with higher perimeter security standards. “The safety of our officers, staff and offenders is paramount to our mission as a Department,” said Director James Dzurenda. “This move will allow us to increase our security within the institutions to better protect offenders serve the communities that trust us to keep them safe.” Officers throughout the state receive consistent Peace Officer Safety Training for all custody levels as offenders are often moved to various institutions for medical care, court appearances or other needs. Their training is refreshed annually. High Desert State Prison is about 1,576,000 square feet and can hold up to 4,100 offenders. It opened Sept. 1, 2000. Ely State Prison opened in July 1989 and has the capacity for 1,183 inmates. The dates of the transfer are being withheld to ensure the safety of offenders, staff and the public.