The Ely State Prison was the department’s sixth major institution. It was designed to replace the Nevada State Prison as the department’s maximum security prison. The design incorporated much of the best detention hardware and operating mechanisms available. Staff safety and positive control of the inmate population were the philosophical concepts controlling the design. The institution was designed and constructed in two phases. The first phase opened in 1989 with two single cell housing units; the second phase opened in 1990 with two additional single cell housing units. The housing units at the Ely State Prison were the prototypes for the design of the units at the Lovelock Correctional Center.
The institution’s two operations and support building divide the facility in the middle. The first building contains the administrative and operations offices, the school, law library, visiting, court room, and chapel. The second building contains the gymnasium, kitchen and dining rooms, prison industries, and maintenance shops. Gun posts provide for staff safety and control of inmates on both yards as well as in the dining rooms. There is a warehouse and trusty dormitory outside of the security perimeter. There are towers at each corner of the 1000 ft. by 1000 ft institution and there are rolls of razor ribbon between the perimeter fences.
The institution has four housing unit buildings, each with two separate housing sections. The sentence structure, institutional behavior, and disciplinary records of inmates determine where they are assigned. The first two housing units, now designated as Units 1 through 4 were constructed in phase one. Unit 1 houses protective segregation inmates. Unit 2 houses inmates in administrative segregation. Unit 3 houses 84 condemned inmates; it is death row. Unit 3 also houses some additional administrative segregation inmates. Unit 4 also houses administrative segregation inmates, as well as inmates in disciplinary detention.
The second two housing units, now designated as Units 5 through 8 were constructed during phase two. These units house the general population of the prison. Unit 5 houses those inmates who have the fewest privileges - called Level 4 - but who have earned a transfer from the phase one side of the prison. The inmates in units 6 through 8 - called Levels 3, 2, and 1 - have earned increased privileges on the basis of their positive adjustment and productivity. Unit 8 houses those inmate who have earned and work productively at responsible institutional assignments.
The warden of the Ely State Prison also supervises the Ely Conservation Camp for inmates assigned to the Nevada Division of Forestry and camp operations support assignments.
STAFFING:
The Ely State Prison has 341 staff:
ADMINISTRATION 4
PROTECTIVE SERVICES 17
CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS 272
PROFESSIONAL 11
SKILLED CRAFT 15
FOOD SERVICES 7
WAREHOUSE 5
CLERICAL 10
The Ely Conservation Camp has 12 staff:
PROTECTIVE SERVICES 11
PROFESSIONAL 1
CAPACITY:
The capacity of the Ely State Prison is:
Design: 784 Operating: 969 Emergency: 1008
The capacity of the Ely Conservation Camp is:
Design: 150 Operating: 150 Emergency: 150
WORK PROGRAMS:
Work assignments at the Ely State Prison are limited because of the function of the institution, but some inmates are assigned to the usual institution maintenance, labor, janitorial, kitchen, laundry, and similar institutional support assignments. Approximately 25 prison industry assignments are available in the drapery manufacturing program.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS:
The education program at the Ely State Prison is provided by the White Pine County School District. All of the program is done by correspondence and closed circuit television. The school district provides 17 staff to the program.
There are 3 inmates enrolled in the Great Basin Community College programs.
The Nevada Department of Corrections is striving to create a new, more open environment for the public, while also providing more effective services. In an effort to accomplish these goals, NDOC has created a Family Services Division designed to address concerns of inmates and their families.
The Division is supervised by Glen Whorton, Director of the Nevada Department of Corrections and serves as the primary location for all inmate-related correspondence and phone inquiries from families. The Divison is currently coordinated by Ronda Larsen, Administrative Assistant III, who works cooperatively with all divisions of the Department to insure that issues are investigated and properly addressed. Ms. Larsen has many years experience in prison administration, and works to ensure that those contacting the Division are provided with accurate, up-to-date information.
The Division staff works closely with Wardens, Associate Wardens, and other NDOC employees throughout the Department. They are trained to answer questions pertaining to virtually all aspects of the incarceration process. They forward ideas and suggestions for improvement to the Director for consideration. All correspondence received by the Division is perused and responded to by Director Glen Whorton or his designated representative.
We hope the operation of the Family Services Division will result in more effective services being provided. You can reach the Family Services Division Staff as follows:
Inmate Services is comprised of five separate functions for the benefit of all inmates. The major functions, responsibilities and tasks are:
Posting of all incoming monies (i.e.; payrolls, deposits, Christmas gift coupons) (Click here to print a Deposit Coupon)
There are now three standard methods to send money to inmates, a Lockbox Deposit Coupon (cashier's check or money order), via Western Union QuickPay (credit card), or via Jpay (credit card or cash). In addition, during the holiday season inmates can receive one special coupon deposit of up to $100, service-free. Click on a link below for more information about each method:
Money Order Information