THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050282
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
People with questions about the possibility of another prison being built in the Maple area will have an opportunity to learn more at an informational meeting at 7 p.m. today at the Currituck County Courthouse.
The county is one of several being considered for North Carolina's first private prison - a 500-bed, medium custody facility near the existing, much smaller prison operated by the North Carolina Department of Corrections.
``We think Currituck presents itself in a very good position,'' said Dave Donahue, the executive vice president of U.S. Corrections Corporation in Louisville, Ky.
Donahue is expected to lead tonight's presentation with Economic Development Director John Mulvey. After a brief introduction and 10-minute video, the men will field questions from residents.
North Carolina, which has seen a rise in its prison population, is hoping to create two new correctional facilities that will be built, managed and financed by a private firm.
``We're able to reduce costs to the government, and we're able to bring projects on line faster, historically, as an industry,'' said Donahue, who has 17 years of experience in public and private prisons.
``Taxpayers don't want to keep putting money toward capital construction and confinement needs,'' he said in a recent telephone interview.
U.S. Corrections Corp. is one of the oldest private prison firms in the country, established in 1983 and operating facilities in Texas, Florida, Kentucky and Ohio. Its seven prisons house about 4,500 inmates.
About 20 of the 100 counties in North Carolina have expressed an interest in U.S. Corrections Corp. ``There's been a significant number of counties that have contacted us about trying to put the jobs in their community,'' Donahue said.
Currituck is attractive, he said, because of its family-oriented communities and potential for growth.
The Maple facility, a single-cell environment to hold convicted felons, would initially generate about 130 jobs, with a majority coming from local hires.
The prison also is expected to provide $182,500 in county tax revenue and create even more jobs and resources through spinoff services.
Among the likely questions to be asked at tonight's public meeting is a facility's impact on property values.
``Property values generally go up, and they go up because of the improved resources available in the community,'' he said.
The prison company executive also said security in the community is always an issue. ``That is a concern that never leaves anyone,'' he said.
Law enforcement usually improves in areas surrounding a prison, making some areas safer, he added.
``If someone is trying to get out of a prison, they're not going to stay close by,'' Donahue said. ``And no one is trying to break into them.'' by CNB