Prisons are an integral part of the criminal justice system in the United States, and Nevada is no exception. The state’s prison system has faced its fair share of challenges in recent years, including overcrowding, budgetary issues, and concerns about inmate rehabilitation.
Despite these challenges, the Nevada Department of Corrections has implemented various reforms in an effort to improve the prison system and reduce recidivism rates.
This article will delve into the current state of prisons in Nevada, exploring their history, current conditions, and efforts to reform the system.
Nevada Prison Map
Use the Nevada prison map below to locate any facility. Click on the map markers to read our detailed guide of that facility.
State Prisons
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Level | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ely State Prison (ESP) | White Pine County | 1,183 | Maximum | Male | Nevada Department of Corrections |
| Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center | Las Vegas | 950 | Various | Female | Nevada Department of Corrections |
| High Desert State Prison (HDSP) | Clark County | 4,176 | Various | Male | Nevada Department of Corrections |
| Lovelock Correctional Center (LCC) | Pershing County | 1,680 | Medium | Various | Nevada Department of Corrections |
| Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) | Carson City | 1,619 | Medium | Various | Nevada Department of Corrections |
| Southern Desert Correctional Center (SDCC) | Clark County | 2,149 | Medium | Male | Nevada Department of Corrections |
| Warm Springs CC (WSCC) | Carson City | 532 | Minimum | Male | Nevada Department of Corrections |
ESP – Ely State Prison
ESP, or Ely State Prison, is a maximum-security prison located in White Pine County, Nevada. It opened in July 1989 and has since been designated as the maximum-security prison for the state.
The facility is located about nine miles north of Ely and was built in two phases. Phase I was completed and opened in August 1989, while Phase II was completed in November 1990. Originally designed for 1,054 inmates, the capacity has been increased to 1,183 inmates.
As a maximum-security prison, ESP houses some of the most dangerous and violent offenders in the state. It has been the subject of controversy due to reports of poor conditions and mistreatment of inmates.
FMWCC – Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center
FMWCC, or the Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center, is a correctional facility for women located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Built and operated by the private corrections contractor Corrections Corporation of America, it opened its doors in September of 1997.
In 2004, the Nevada Department of Corrections took over the institution’s management. FMWCC has a total capacity of 950 inmates. This facility provides various programs and services for its inmates, including educational and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.
The facility’s primary goal is to provide a safe and secure environment for female offenders while also offering opportunities for rehabilitation and personal growth.
HDSP – High Desert State Prison
High Desert State Prison (HDSP) is the largest major institution in the Nevada Department of Corrections. It was designed to incorporate the best technology available for corrections, with a focus on officer safety and inmate management and control.
The complex spans approximately 1,576,000 square feet of space and opened in 2000 as the reception center for Southern Nevada. In 2009, new construction added 1,344 beds to the original 2,671, bringing the total capacity to approximately 4,176.
HDSP is the first institution in what will become a large Southern Nevada prison complex.
LCC- Lovelock Correctional Center
Lovelock Correctional Center is a medium-security prison located in Pershing County, Nevada. The facility was constructed in two phases, with the first phase opening in August 1995 and the second phase being completed shortly after.
The prison has a total of four 168-cell housing units and two 84-cell units, with each 80-square-foot cell being able to house two inmates.
The institution has a budgeted capacity of 1,680 offenders and houses medium-custody general population inmates and close-custody protective segregation inmates, as well as a separate unit for a small number of minimum-custody inmates.
Overall, Lovelock Correctional Center plays a crucial role in the Nevada Department of Corrections, providing a secure and safe environment for inmates and staff alike.
NNCC – Northern Nevada Correctional Center
Northern Nevada Correctional Center (NNCC) is a medium custody facility that first opened its doors in 1964 with three housing units. Over the years, NNCC has expanded and now has a total bed capacity of 1,619 inmates, with seven additional housing units added from 1964 to 2008.
This facility is also the Intake Center for the Northern region, where inmates are first processed before being transferred to other facilities.
NNCC is also home to the Regional Medical Facility for the Nevada prison system, which includes an in-patient medical and mental health unit, as well as the MIC and SCU units for inmates who require additional staff monitoring.
Additionally, NNCC houses the Regional Warehouse, which serves as the distribution center for facilities in Carson City and Reno.
SDCC – Southern Desert Correctional Center
Southern Desert Correctional Center is a medium custody prison located in Clark County, just north of Las Vegas. The facility was established in February 1982 and has since undergone several expansions.
The prison has seven 102-cell housing units, one of which housed federal prisoners until the state took it over in 1987. Each cell is 60 square feet and accommodates one inmate. In 1989, a new 200-cell housing unit was added, and in March 2008, two 240-bed dormitory-style housing units were built, bringing the prison’s capacity to 2,149 inmates.
Southern Desert Correctional Center primarily houses medium custody general population inmates, along with two specialized programming units. The prison’s total capacity is approximately 2,149 inmates.
WSCC – Warm Springs Correctional Center
The Warm Springs Correctional Center (WSCC) in Nevada has a rich history dating back to the 1960s. Originally authorized and constructed as the Nevada Women’s Correctional Center, it was later converted to a medium-security men’s prison in 1998 and then to a minimum custody facility in 2003.
WSCC has undergone four remodels and expansions since its inception, with additional housing units, classrooms, and a core services building added throughout the years.
The most recent expansion in 1998 brought the budgeted capacity of WSCC from 260 to 510 inmates, and it is currently budgeted for 532 inmates as a men’s medium custody institution. Today, WSCC serves as an important correctional facility in Nevada, providing necessary services and programs for inmates.
Sources:
https://doc.nv.gov/Facilities/ESP_Facility/
https://doc.nv.gov/Facilities/FMWCC_Facility/
https://doc.nv.gov/Facilities/HDSP_Faciltiy/
https://doc.nv.gov/Facilities/LCC_Facility/
https://doc.nv.gov/Facilities/NNCC_Facility/
https://doc.nv.gov/Facilities/SDCC_Facility/
https://doc.nv.gov/Facilities/WSCC_Facility/