Four Towns Express Interest In Expanding Prisons

EAST LYME (AP) — Four Connecticut towns have expressed interest in expanding their existing prison facilities.

East Lyme, Montville, Somers, and Suffield have submitted written proposals to the state Department of Correction in response to an offer of incentives that include state tax breaks.

East Lyme already houses two prisons. The expansion of the 900-acre York Correctional Facility could result in state-funded improvements in water and sewer facilities and roads, town officials said.

“It will improve our infrastructure,” First Selectman Wayne Fraser said Friday. “It’s an obvious benefit to the town.”

The money provided by the state could equal as much 10 new businesses and more state employees frequenting businesses in town, Mr Fraser said. And the men’s and women’s facilities have been good corporate neighbors, employing the most people in town, he said.

Correction department spokeswoman Christina Polce said state officials will review the proposals in the coming weeks and work individually with the towns to explore the feasibility of each plan.

Correction Commissioner John Armstrong in July issued an urgent appeal to towns and cities to consider prison projects that would create space for 1,600 high-security inmates.

The state has more than 17,000 inmates, nearly double the number a decade ago, because of tougher sentencing laws. The inmate population is projected to grow to more than 21,000 prisoners in 2004, officials said.

The prison shortage has led to the controversial transfer of inmates to facilities in Virginia. Nearly 500 Connecticut prisoners were sent to Wallens Ridge State Prison last year to ease crowding. More than 300 remain at Wallens Ridge, while 134 have been transferred to the Greenville Correctional Center in Virginia.