Full List of Private Prisons in the State of New Hampshire
If you are looking for the full list of private prisons in the State of New Hampshire, we got it for you!
New Hampshire is the constitutive state of the United States of America, situated in New England at the farthest northeastern corner. It is one of the fifth smallest U.S. states, bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north.
In the view of a prison population, New Hampshire had about 2127 prisoners, including 1979 males and 148 females, in 2021, kept in private prisons or local jails. Before we get to the full list of private prisons in the state of New Hampshire, you might appreciate a few other stats.
The prison population in New Hampshire ranks at #46 in the category of lowest to highest imprisonment rate in the United States. New Hampshire has an incarceration rate of 328 per 100,000 people, and incarcerating one person costs around $54,368 annually.
Background on Private Prisons
The United States is home to the largest prison population, and the privatization of prison facilities primarily brings a proposed solution to an increasing demand for more space in prisons.
In 2021, twenty-seven states of the U.S. imprisoned 96,370 people in private facilities of prisons, leading to around ten percent of the U.S. prison population currently in the custody of private prisons.
Following the critical remarks argued in bills that shifting prisoners beyond state lines will shatter families and thus increase relapsing among out-of-state prisoners liberating back to New Hampshire, it would cost the state even more. After the bill was defeated, lawmakers rapidly turned their attention to the decision to privatize prisons.
Overview of New Hampshire State’s Prisons
New Hampshire has an increased and varied history of prisons. The first prison in the state came into existence in 1812, and ever since then, the state has witnessed several different prisons come and go.
New Hampshire Department of Corrections (NHDOC) administers the facilities of state prisons, halfway houses, and county corrections throughout the state.
However, the state operates only one stand-alone federal prison, overseen by the Northeast Regional office - headquartered in Pennsylvania, U.S.
The selection of private facilities in the state’s prison operations is authentically a responsibility of the legislature’s Executive Council, a committee accountable for ruling all state procurements over $10,000.
Despite having several estimated around 2200 prisoners as reported in 2021, New Hampshire state is now at efforts to work soliciting bids from four private companies:
Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), The GEO Group, Management and Training Corporation (MTC), and The Hunt Group/Lasalle Corrections to provide extra space for prisoners.
The state has served for months soliciting bids to arrange a large-scale facility of men’s prison, a women’s facility, and a hybrid unit that would accommodate both women and men prisoners.
Prison facilities in New Hampshire also facilitate the prisoners with the service offered known as "Protective custody," which is the special classification for C-5 prisoners; C-5 classification is for violent or problematic prisoners.
Protective custody isolates the C-5 prisoners from the general population and keeps them in a group separated from the other prisoners.
Full List of Private Prisons in the State of Hampshire
New Hampshire has four private prisons, but only three are currently in operation, managed by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections. Prison facilities include:
- New Hampshire State Prison for Men in Concord
- New Hampshire correctional facility for Women in Concord
- Lakes Region Facility in Laconia
- Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility
The Lakes region facility in Laconia closed on June 30, 2009. Equivalently, there are three halfway houses in New Hampshire prisons' private facilities.
Halfway houses facilities comprise Shea Farm Halfway House in Concord, Calumet Halfway House in Manchester, and North End Halfway House in Concord.
- New Hampshire State Prison for Men: New Hampshire state prison for Men is the state's first prison facility, established in 1812 and then a new private facility constructed in 1878.
This facility remains in use today after the considerable renovations and new construction in the 1980s. The NH State Prison for Men is a multi-security level in Concord which provides custody for three classification levels of male violators varying from general population (C3) to maximum security (C5).
Location: 281 North State St. Concord, New Hampshire
Capacity: 1461 prisoners
- New Hampshire Correctional Facility for Women (NHCFW): New Hampshire correctional facility for Women is the only women's prison in the U.S. state of New Hampshire.
It was formerly a state prison for women in Goffstown, but then, after years of legal conflicts about services offered at the old Goffstown facility, the new facility opened in Concord in 2018.
Location: 42 Perimeter Road Concord, New Hampshire
Capacity: 105 prisoners
- Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility (NNHCF): The northern new hampshire correctional facility is the newest prison facility in Berlin, New Hampshire, U.S.
It opened in 2000 and is 190 km away from Concord in New Hampshire. Resulting from the closing of the Lakes region facility in Laconia, this prison now has a maximum capacity of holding prisoners.
Location: 138 East Milan Rd Berlin, New Hampshire
Capacity: 665 prisoners
Now that you know the full list of private prisons in the state of New Hampshire, here’s a look at the halfway houses in Hampshire prisons.
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Halfway Houses in Hampshire
- Shea Farm Halfway House: It is the minimum transitional housing facility for women in Concord, New Hampshire, that opened in 1973.
Location: 60 Iron Works Road, Concord, New Hampshire
Capacity: 40 prisoners
- Calumet Halfway House: It is a transitional housing facility established in Manchester in 1979, a minimum security facility that accommodates imprisoned males nearing the end of their sentences with the New Hampshire Department of Corrections.
Location: 126 Lowell Street
Manchester, New Hampshire
Capacity: 64 prisoners
- North End Halfway House: North End is a secure transitional housing facility in Concord, opened in 1996.
Location: 1 Perimeter Road Concord, New Hampshire
Capacity: 48 prisoners
New Hampshire Prison Issues
Bad Reputation: According to the latest reports, New Hampshire prisons are among the worst in the U.S. It is because of the conditions prisoners are suffering to live in and the treatment they obtain from the staff.
Meanwhile, prisoners are repeatedly subjected to violence, racism, and ill-treatment from other prisoners and staff members.
Violation and inadequacy of healthcare facilities: Another major issue prisoners tolerate in prison facilities in New Hampshire is the lack of adequate healthcare. Many prisoners die from treatable illnesses or injuries.
Violation from C-5 prisoners, who are very dangerous to other prisoners, is also a matter of concern in state prisons. Numerous groups of prisoners faced negative relationships between staff and C-5 prisoners, who are causing stress and fear to them.
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Final Words
Talking of the full list of private prisons in the state of New Hampshire, there are three private prisons in operation, along with three private halfway houses. However, New Hampshire prisons have a bad reputation, with prisoners experiencing violence, racism, and mistreatment from both fellow prisoners and staff members.
At the same time, there are issues relating to inadequate healthcare, leading to preventable deaths among prisoners. The negative relationships between staff and dangerous prisoners also contribute to a stressful and fearful environment.
These concerns highlight the need for reforms and improvements in the state's prison system to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved.