WY: Medium Security Prison Sited, Debate Continues

Wyoming Corrections Director Bob Lampert announced in December that the town of Torrington was selected as the site for a new 650-bed medium security prison. The prison is estimated to cost $83 million. Officials from the other two cities considered for the prison, Rawlins and Riverton, are still fighting to get the prison. They released a report showing that if sited in the border town of Torrington, most economic benefit from the prison would go to neighboring Nebraska because most people employed by the prison would probably live or shop there.

Concerned that the legislature might recommend that the Corrections Department reconsider their site choice,and site the prison in Riverton, residents of Riverton put up a billboard across from the motel where most legislators stay during the session. The billboard lists groups in Riverton and the surrounding Fremont County that oppose the prison, including the active medical staff of the Riverton Memorial Hospital.

Many residents of Torrington are also opposed to the prison. However, the number of people signing petitions and voicing opposition to the prison dropped off after a prison opponent’s barn burned down the day after she gave testimony against the prison. While arson was listed as the likely cause of the fire, there are no suspects.

Sources: Casper Star-Tribune, Billings Gazette