Wyoming, the least populous state in the United States, has a relatively small prison population compared to other states. However, the state’s correctional facilities have been facing a number of challenges in recent years, including overcrowding, understaffing, and inadequate funding. With a growing inmate population and limited resources, Wyoming’s prison system is in need of serious reform. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the state’s prisons, their current state, and what’s being done to address these issues.
State Prisons
| Prison Name | Location | Inmate Capacity | Security Level | Gender | Operator/ Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming State Penitentiary | Rawlins, Wyoming | 672 | Maximum | Male | Wyoming Department of Corrections |
| Wyoming Women’s Center | Lusk, Wyoming | 284 | Minimum | Female | Wyoming Department of Corrections |
| Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution | Torrington, Wyoming | 679 | Medium | Male | Wyoming Department of Corrections |
Wyoming State Penitentiary
The Wyoming State Penitentiary, located in Rawlins, Carbon County, Wyoming, is a historic and current prison that has been in operation since 1901. It moved to a new location in Rawlins in 1981 and is currently a maximum-security prison for men.
It is also home to Wyoming’s death row for men, as well as the state’s execution chamber, which is located in the prison’s parole board meeting room. While no death sentences have been carried out in Wyoming since 1992, the prison remains equipped to carry out capital punishment if necessary. As of 2018, there were no inmates on death row at the Wyoming State Penitentiary.
Wyoming Women’s Center
The Wyoming Women’s Center, established in 1977, is a women’s prison located in Lusk, Wyoming. Originally located on the grounds of the Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston, the facility was moved to its permanent location in Lusk in 1981. The Women’s Center has a housing capacity of 261 in the main facility and an additional 32 beds in the Intensive Treatment Unit.
The facility provides a range of programs and services to support rehabilitation and reentry into society, including educational and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. The staff at the Women’s Center are committed to providing a safe and secure setting while also helping inmates develop the skills and resources they need to successfully reintegrate into their communities upon release.
Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution
Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution (WMCI) is a men’s prison located in Torrington, Wyoming. The facility serves as an intake center for men who are not sentenced to death and is operated by the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
WMCI is designed to house medium-security inmates and provides a range of programs and services to support rehabilitation and reentry into society. These include educational and vocational training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. The staff at WMCI are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment while also helping inmates grow the skills and knowledge they need to reintegrate into their communities upon their release.