Loss of prison population means big changes down the road for districts in Swift County, Minn.
February 24, 2012 at 6:00 pm in West Central Tribune
BENSON The loss of 1,400 inmates from the privately owned and now defunct Appleton prison will create huge shifts in the Swift County Commissioner districts change that could result in the forced election of all five commissioners.
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The business Lords of Appelton put their heads together and attempted to take the city out of the brink of economic collapse and invest in the private prison business. The venture was a tough road with many ups and downs but the city was reaping some benefits, and hope was once again restored. Then came CCA and things were really looking up especially for employees when the company purchased PCF. This was suppose to ensure employment and economic growth to this farm town, until the economy took a nose dive and states who were boarding their inmates including MN pulled the inmates to fill their own empty beds, and everyone was laid off. Those employees who wanted to relocate stayed employed while others drew unemployment and held out some hope that the Prison would once again re-open. It has been several years now and no one is calling! Here is the big problem, number one the private prison business never caught on in MN and unions did not want them, because they claimed low pay and violations with their other prisons down south left a bad taste in the mouths state prisons. At least MN did give PCF a chance, but they were under orders to fill all available beds so that was that! No other Midwest cities with strong union Representation didn’t want anything to do with CCA, and Wis. also pulled their inmates from PCF for the same reasons. Next the location of PCF in Appleton which was far from major airports and other the Twin Cities didn’t help when CCA/PCF tried finding other agancies who were looking for bed space. As of now those who were in contact with PCF, decided not to board with PCF. The empty prison is costing 11T a month for electricity, and heat, and remains empty with no bright prospects in the horizon. There is one solution, the MNDOC should probably buy PCF rather then having the facility sit there empty costing CCA a good deal of money. There are other CCA facilities empty, even one that is brand new, but never seen one inmate going on 5yrs. Again these prisons are built in small towns just like Appleton, with employee turn-over sometimes over 50%! From what I was told Appleton was their star facility, but now is on the brink of closing for good, or they may be able to salvage this trouble Prison by selling it?Something better take shape soon or the prison would stay a shell in a community that is struggling once again to keep their heads above water!
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