The Nevada Department of Corrections has completed considerable changes to two state prsions.
High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs in Clark County is now designated as a maximum-security prison. Ely State Prison — which had formerly been the state's maximum security prison — has been downgraded to medium security.
Over a two-day span, nearly 2,000 prisoners were moved from one location to the other. No injuries to staff or offenders were reported during the move.
The staff at High Desert State Prison are receiving training focused on the change to maximum-security, and its training academy for new hires has been updated to reflect this change as well.
Northern Nevada Correctional Center, Lovelock Correctional Center and Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center have returned to normal operations. Phone privileges and visitation are restored.
Ely State Prison, High Desert State Prison and Southern Desert Correctional Center remain on institutional lockdown.
While the recent incident at Ely State Prison where three prisoners were killed factored into the decision to make this change, NDOC says that the move had actually been planned for several months due to an increase in gang violence, along with the remote nature of Ely State Prison.
The highest-risk prisoners will now be housed where there is more staff, and the location is closer to outside law enforcement and medical services, if necessary.
Opened in 2000, High Desert State Prison is over 1.5 million square feet and can hold up to 4,100 prisoners.
Ely State Prison opened in 1989 and has the capacity for around 1,200 inmates.
