|
Arizona Department of Corrections
Arizona State Prison Complex - DOUGLAS History
The Arizona State Prison Complex at Douglas is
composed of five units and a Support Service Unit.
The first unit in the Douglas Complex to be
constructed was the Maricopa Unit, which became
operational in December 1983 as the Arizona
Correctional Training Facility-Douglas. Inmates were
moved here to assist the contractor in building the
facility. Sixty-three inmates were housed in barracks
type structures adjacent to the prison. Currently there
are 130 inmates housed at the Maricopa Unit.
The main purpose of this unit was to house
inmates who would work with the Department of
Administration in the construction of a permanent
housing unit now known as the Mohave Unit. Mohave
was designed to house 800 level 3 male inmates. Due to
prison overcrowding, the population increased to 872.
Mohave now houses 927 inmates.
In 1985, a high influx of inmates forced the
Department to procure emergency bed space. Trailer-type buildings were purchased and utilized as
emergency beds for 600 inmates, which is now known as
the Gila Unit. There are 662 inmates at the Gila Unit
presently.
In March of 1984, the need for housing inmates
convicted of DUI offenses became a problem for the
department. Pursuant to ARS statues, inmates
convicted of a DUI offense needed to be housed
separately from other convicted felons. The Papago Unit
was purchased from the Desert Inn Motel Company and
converted into a prison unit. It housed 250 inmates.
Papago now houses 340 inmates.
Over the next several years, due to the rapid
rate of growth of individuals incarcerated in the Arizona
Department of Corrections, ASPC-Douglas has grown
from
a capacity of approximately 900 inmates to the
present capacity of 2,148. This amount includes 89 at the
Complex Detention Unit.
Support Services has also grown due to the
increase of inmates. We presently employ staff
members in areas such as Business, Maintenance,
Education, Religion, Administrative Support and
Health Service. ASPC-Douglas was awarded the
prestigious "Large Business of the Year Award"
twice, once in 1996 and again in 1999, by the
Douglas Chamber of Commerce. This award was for
outstanding contributions made by ASPC-Douglas
employees over the years. On November 16, 1998,
ASPC-Douglas received the "Governors Award for
Excellence" for the Inmate Work Crew Program. We
currently maintain more than 39 Intergovernmental
Agreement contracts throughout Cochise County.
The use of inmate Labor has saved the
surrounding communities more than two million
dollars in labor costs annually. This monetary savings
is substantial; however, it is not as important as the
image of the inmates giving back to the community.
Under the leadership of Director Dora B. Schriro, ASPC-Douglas continues to maintain an
active membership within the Douglas Community as
well as all other communities in which it serves.
The relationship between the Arizona State Prison and Cochise
County has existed long before the Douglas Prison Complex
was built and sent its first work crew to the City of Douglas.
Not only do the inmates "give back to the
community," Arizona Department of Corrections
employees also give back to the community. ADOC
employees participate in various civic and community
activities. These employees unselfishly give of their
time, effort and money to provide the needed funds
for these non profit organizations thereby
contributing to those less fortunate and in need.
Return to ASPC Douglas
|
