New jail building opens in Brandon
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/02/2011 (5599 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Brandon jail just got 50 per cent larger.
A new building that expands the capacity of the Brandon Correctional Centre by 84 beds is now in use, expanding the "ideal capacity" of the jail from 164 inmates up to 248 inmates.
The jail is regularly crowded beyond its capacity, and provincial numbers show that it has held upwards of 280 inmates.
"This latest addition adds 84 beds to the correctional system, an increase that helps respond to the growing need to house more offenders," said Attorney General Andrew Swan in annoucing the new opening. "The new space adds to the safety of our facilities for both inmates and staff."
"Adding to an existing facility means we can make use of the existing infrastructure and update it to meet the needs of the expanded jail. It’s a cost-effective and time-efficient way of adding much-needed space to the system," added Transportation Minister Steve Ashton.
The project added low- to medium-security bed space, to accommodate both sentenced inmates and those awaiting trial, and has small units to house female and youth offenders.
The new building cost approximately $5.7 million and consists of four sub-units with dormitory-style accommodations. In addition, construction is underway on new kitchen facilities to accommodate the increase in the population and a new fence is being added to improve the overall security of the facility. The main building opened in December 1979 and was designed to house inmates from across the provincial correctional system.
Since 1999, 520 beds have been added to Manitoba’s adult correctional system. An additional 364 beds are currently in various stages of construction to add capacity including:
- new women’s facility being built in Headingley to replace the Portage Women’s Correctional Centre, which will have a total of 100 beds, 65 of which will be new;
- projects at Milner Ridge Correctional Centre that will add 224 beds; and
- a 40-bed expansion at The Pas Correctional Centre.