Company hired to study prison plan

A Connecticut firm will help legislators decide whether to build a new state prison. ...  More »

A Connecticut firm will help legislators decide whether to build a new state prison. The Criminal Justice Institute will look into whether it makes more sense to build a new Bismarck prison or remodel the existing one. The consultant's report is due in March. The Legislative Council voted 13-to-2 today to hire the firm. Earlier this year, the Legislature debated the prison question. Governor John Hoeven favored a 42 million dollar renovation project but House Republicans wanted to build a new prison. The Legislature set aside 250-thousand dollars for the study.  « Less