No doubt, Draper city would rather not have the state prison in its back yard. But a feasibility study released in November 2005 indicated that selling the 670 acres on which the prison sits and relocating it to another county would be a financial loser for the state. At the time, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who had raised the possibility of relocating the prison during his first gubernatorial campaign, agreed that the numbers didn't work.
But the issue isn't dead. Recently, the Salt Lake County Council and the Draper City Council passed resolutions asking the state to consider moving the 57-year-old prison to make way for commercial and residential developments, as well as higher education facilities. Some local officials say land values have increased in the interim, which may make the concept work. Still others say the feasibility study conducted by Wikstrom Economic and Planning Consultants Inc., at the cost of $140,000, was flawed.
Whatever the case, other factors must play into the decision whether to relocate the prison, ranging from staffing to volunteer assistance at the facility.
Maintaining sufficient staff is a grave concern. Under current conditions the Department of Corrections struggles to keep experienced officers in its employ. Many leave for better pay offered at county jails. Moving the prison would present additional challenges because employees may not be able or willing to commute to work. Veteran employees who have purchased homes near the prison may be unwilling to work at a new location.
Another concern would be lengthening the travel time for corrections officers who transport inmates to court appearances or medical appointments. With oil futures once again trading at $100 a barrel, the cost of motor fuel is a significant budget concern.
Moving the prison also could mean a loss in the prison's volunteer force. More than 1,000 volunteers spend time in Utah prisons teaching classes and providing spiritual guidance to inmates. Their labors help to rehabilitate inmates, or at least to make them more manageable for corrections officers.
It is well and good for the Salt Lake County Council and the Draper City Council to express their points of view on valuable prison land through resolutions. Ultimately, it's the state's call, and change should come only if the numbers and the logistics, at some point, make sense.