Snake River Correctional Institution
{{Short description|Medium security prison in Oregon, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox prison
| name = Snake River Correctional Institution
| image =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = USA#Oregon
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States##Location in Oregon
| pushpin_relief = y
| pushpin_label = Ontario
| location = Malheur County, Oregon,
near Ontario
| coordinates = {{Coord|44.079|N|117.066|W|display=inline,title}}
| classification = Medium with co-located Minimum
| capacity = 3,050
| population = 2,940
| opened = {{Start date and age|1991}}
| managed_by = ODOC
| warden = Joe Woodland
| street-address = 777 Stanton Boulevard
| city = Ontario
| county = Malheur
| state = Oregon
| zip = 97914
| country = United States
| website = {{URL|https://www.oregon.gov/doc/about/Pages/prison-locations.aspx|Oregon prisons}}
|status=Operational}}
Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) is a medium security men's prison in the western United States in eastern Oregon. The largest facility in the Oregon Department of Corrections system, it is located in unincorporated northeastern Malheur County,{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st41_or/county/c41045_malheur/DC20BLK_C41045.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Malheur County, OR|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2022-08-21|page=30 (PDF p. 31/176)|quote=Snake River Correctional Instn|archive-date=2022-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220821183441/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/DC20BLK/st41_or/county/c41045_malheur/DC20BLK_C41045.pdf|url-status=live}} about {{convert|5|mi|0|spell=in}} northwest of central Ontario, which is near the Snake River.
History
The state's prison siting committee selected the Ontario site in October 1989 for a medium security prison that could house up to 3,000 inmates, which Governor Neil Goldschmidt approved later in the month.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zvNVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4682%2C3218551 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |last=Carpenter Hale |first=Sally |title=It's final: Prison site in Ontario |date=October 14, 1989 |page=1A |access-date=September 8, 2022 |archive-date=September 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908033636/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zvNVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4682,3218551 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|last=Ellis|first=Barnes C.|title=Governor approves Ontario prison site|newspaper=The Oregonian|date=October 14, 1989|page=A1}} SRCI opened in August 1991 with 576 medium and 72 minimum security beds.
In 1994, the Oregon Legislature approved a $175 million expansion; built by Hoffman Construction, it was completed in 1998.{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Brian K. |date=1999-03-28 |title=Hoffman strikes back at auditors |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1999/03/29/story1.html?page=all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521110743/http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1999/03/29/story1.html?page=all |archive-date=2014-05-21 |access-date=2014-05-21 |newspaper=Portland Business Journal |language=en-US |df=mdy}} At the time, it was the largest public works project in the state's history.{{cite web |title=Department of Corrections : Prison Locations : About Us : State of Oregon |url=https://www.oregon.gov/doc/about/pages/prison-locations.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608072441/https://www.oregon.gov/doc/about/pages/prison-locations.aspx |archive-date=June 8, 2023 |access-date=August 30, 2023 |website=oregon.gov |publisher=Oregon Department of Corrections}}
Operations
Currently, the prison houses 2,336 medium security beds, 154 minimum security beds, and 510 beds in specialized units such as administrative segregation, disciplinary segregation, intensive management, and the infirmary/hospice. It is staffed by approximately 900 employees.{{cite web|last=Staff|title=SRCI|url=http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/OPS/PRISON/pages/srci_welcome.aspx|work=DOC Operations Division: Prison|publisher=Oregon.gov|access-date=27 February 2013|archive-date=24 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124095628/http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/OPS/PRISON/pages/srci_welcome.aspx|url-status=deviated}}
Among the prison industries housed at Snake River are a commercial call center,{{cite news |last=Kramer |first=Andrew |date=February 28, 2004 |title=Prisons keep jobs in U.S. Call centers employ inmates, resist lure to move offshore |url=http://cjonline.com/stories/022804/bus_prisons.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110643/http://cjonline.com/stories/022804/bus_prisons.shtml |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=27 February 2013 |newspaper=The Topeka Capital-Journal}} a metal shop that manufactures road signs for the state, and a building trades program that manufactures small modular structures such as comfort stations and gatehouses for the state parks.
The elevation of the prison is approximately {{convert|2480|ft|round=5}} above sea level.
Notable inmates
- Benjamin Jeffrey Smith – perpetrator of the Normandale Park shooting in 2022.{{cite web|url=https://docpub.state.or.us//OOS/searchCriteria.jsf|title=Oregon Department of Corrections | quote=SID number:18602987}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{Portal|Oregon}}
- {{Official website|http://www.oregon.gov/doc/ops/prison/Pages/srci.aspx}}
- [http://www.oregon.gov/doc/pages/index.aspx ODOC official site]
{{State prisons in Oregon}}
{{Ontario, Oregon}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:1991 establishments in Oregon
Category:Buildings and structures in Malheur County, Oregon