Bonne Terre prison might finally be used

By Jim Obert

Business Today

BONNE TERRE - A plan is being developed to move 50 inmates into the new Bonne Terre prison this spring as part of a boot camp rehabilitation program, according to a Department of Corrections official.

A $168 million prison was built in this northern St. Francois County town several years ago, but has never been occupied due to lack of funding. About 4,000 residents live in this financially strapped community located about 55 miles southwest of St. Louis.

Tim Kniest, Department of Corrections spokesman, said Gov. Bob Holden signed-off on a proposal several weeks ago to transfer 50 inmates from the nearby Farmington Correctional Center to Bonne Terre on May 1.

Reportedly, the inmates will participate in a 120-day program designed for law-breakers on probation or seeking probation.

State Sen. Danny Staples (D-Eminence) also said Bonne Terre will start seeing activity at the prison starting on May 1, according to an article in the Daily Journal in Park Hills.

Staples recently told the newspaper that the prison will hire 100 employees by May. He said there will be inmates, but, at the time, he didn't know how many.

Staples said he will look at trying to move prisoners from older prisons like the Ozark Correctional facility to Bonne Terre.

Staples said the governor and the Department of Corrections reached agreement Nov. 28 to hire the employees.

Larry Hughes, Bonne Terre city manager, said partially opening the prison and hiring workers will generate extra money for area merchants and additional tax revenue for the struggling city. But he also said residents won't be happy until the prison is completely open.

In September, Gary Kempker, director of the Department of Corrections, said he believed the prison would not open until January 2003, unless supplemental funding was obtained.

In October, Kniest announced the department was considering different options to open part of the multi-million dollar facility, but no decisions had been made and funding was still needed.