BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – In the last decade, U.S. prison numbers have decreased by 25%, but the complete opposite has happened here. North Dakota prisons have seen an increase of 18%, and now its facilities and overflow housing are at capacity.
More inmates are walking in the doors of the State Penitentiary than are coming out. This lopsided number is leading to an overcrowding issue in state-run facilities. The current male population in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) stands at 1,773, but the capacity is 1,624.
“But now we’re getting to the point where we’re just running out of room even in the county jails with overflow,” said Rachelle Juntunen, deputy director of adult services.
For the first time, the DOCR’s male population will be under a prioritization plan. This means inmates with higher-level felonies will get priority to be moved into State Pen when a bed opens up, and counties taking on overflow will be reimbursed for housing DOCR inmates.
“Concerned about public safety, and we want to get those that are convicted of a higher felony, that are violent, those are going to have first priority to be able to come in,” said Juntunen.
The DOCR states there is no one reason the prison population continues to increase, but more people are being sentenced and for longer. For the first time in a decade, the average sentence is more than three years.
“We are going to be in this situation probably for the next several years,” said Juntunen.
She said the department can’t just keep building, and other plans need to be in place to address the issue such as looking at what is happening nationally and having more access to behavioral health services in communities.
“If there are ways around trying to sentence less people to prison and try to offer more services to within the community, when it’s safe of course,” said Juntunen.
She said it’s not just the state that is part of the solution, but also county jails, judges and state attorneys.
The prison population has grown 36% from 2020 to 2023, but violent crime rates in the state have decreased by 15% during the same time period.
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