
Address	Location	Name and Personnel Title	Capacity	Construction
R.D. #1, Box 500	Blue Water	Brian Young, Warden Richard Black, Assistant Warden	2,000	Reinforced concrete

Table F.61. Columbia State Prison General Information

The Columbia Department of Corrections operates the Columbia State Prison for Men (CSPM). This 60 acre facility is four miles south of the community of Blue Water, on SR 52 adjacent to the Roaring River. In past years, part of the facility was nearly evacuated due to floodwaters from the Roaring River. A companion facility for women is located in Metropolis. The prison campus has four incarceration units, a medical facility, and an administration building. Also within the prison fence is a garden plot where vegetables are grown for prisoner consumption. Prisoners also maintain prison vehicles in the prison motor pool.

Inmates at this facility are all sentenced prisoners, with various levels of security classification. The average age of inmates is 35. Their incarceration is based on the following predominant charges: crimes against persons 38%, narcotics 30%, property or other crimes 32%.

The Columbia Department of Corrections (DOC) maintains two (2) Type II Prisoner Facility Operations Support Task Forces. Each Task Force provides requesting jurisdictions’ personnel to staff and/or support a correctional facility.

The DOC also maintains two (2) Type II Prisoner Transport Task Forces to assist the requesting jurisdiction with an organized, systematic, and rapid response with the evacuation and transportation of prisoners. It includes prisoner record keeping, limited emergency medical care, and logistical resources.

The above Prisoner Facility Operations Task Force and one Prisoner Transport Task Force are maintained at both the Columbia State Prison for Men in Blue Water and the Columbia State Prison for Women in Metropolis.

F.8.1.1. Current Institution Population


Facility	Population
Medical Facility	40
Unit 1	450
Unit 2	576
Unit 3	750
Unit 4	150
Total	1966

Table F.62. Columbia State Prison Current Institution Population

There is some level of prison gang activity inside the institution, with members of the prison- based Aryan Brotherhood, Mexican Mafia, Skinhead, White Supremacist, Nazi Low Riders, and Black Guerrilla Family occasionally identified in narcotics or fight activity. Other problems resulted when street gang members from the Latin Kings, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) (a very violent Hispanic gang with presence in most States throughout the country), and El Rukn began to filter into the population.

The facility is staffed by a total of 200 correctional officers per shift for 4 shifts. These professionals have peace officer authority anywhere in the State while on duty, but have no power to arrest or to carry weapons while off duty. They complete a six-week training program at a facility in Capital City prior to their assignment.

The correctional officers are supported by a staff of 500 other employees, in classifications ranging from teacher to health care worker.

The physical facility consists of four building complexes, an administration building, and one medical facility. Two 35-foot tall metal fences secure the prison property. The inner fence is electrified. There is concertina-wire border atop the outer fence. Sensors notify guard control stations when anyone approaches either side of the fence line. Any movement will set off an alarm in the prison’s central control area. There is a ten-foot “no man’s land” between the two fences. Guard towers at each of the facility’s four corners are no longer staffed due to video monitoring of the perimeter. The main vehicle gate is a covered “sally port” to facilitate positive searches of each vehicle entering the facility.

CSPM is supported by electricity from local commercial utilities but has an independent water supply from a local well. There is a backup generator system capable of sustaining emergency lighting and communications for up to 72 hours. Heating and air conditioning of the buildings is through natural gas.

F.8.1.2. Correctional Medical Facility

In 1980, a former dormitory of wood frame construction was converted into a medical facility for inmates. This is a 40 bed facility equipped to care for inmates with chronic illness. This facility is in the southeast corner of the prison property between the Administration building and Unit 1, with a separate security fence within the prison’s outer perimeter fencing.

F.8.1.3. Columbia State Prison for Men Units

F.8.1.3.1. Unit 1 (Maximum Capacity 450)

This is a high security, traditional design, three-story cellblock constructed of unreinforced masonry. It was constructed in 1920 and is the oldest building at CSPM. It is designed with a long row of two person cells and has a day room at one end of the building and a feeding area at the other. Cell doors are controlled by an antiquated mechanical system. Prison rights groups have long complained about temperatures in this building, which range from very hot to freezing cold. CSPM officials have tried a number of solutions; none have completely solved the problem.

The building is accompanied by a secure exercise yard. A guard tower atop the building permits monitoring of activity in this area.

F.8.1.3.2. Unit 2 (Maximum Capacity 1152)

This unit houses medium and high security prisoners. Buildings are two-story, steel frame, and reinforced concrete block, constructed in 1970. There are six wings with 48 cells per floor. Common rooms for feeding and recreation connect these buildings. Closed circuit television cameras monitor an adjacent exercise yard.

F.8.1.3.3. Unit 3(Maximum Capacity 750)

Medium to low risk prisoners are housed in this complex of five three-story unreinforced masonry dormitories, each constructed between 1955 and 1968. Fifty inmates are housed on each floor.

F.8.1.3.4. Unit 4 (Maximum Capacity 150)

This is the forestry and work camp, where inmates assigned to these crews train and work. Seven crews of 20 inmates each are trained to work on projects such as wildland firefighting, public works and construction, maintenance, and landscaping. One hundred and fifty inmates are housed in several wood frame structures. Also in this complex is the prison’s fire department, consisting of a single Type I engine. It is used only within the institution. Forestry/work inmate crews are supported by a fleet of eight 30-passenger buses.

Diagram of fictitious Columbia State Prison for Men. The diagram shows three units, fire department, garden plot, motor pool, medical facility, and administrative offices.

Figure F.4. Columbia State Prison for Men Diagram


Address	Location	Name and Personnel Title	Capacity	Construction
A & 23rd Streets	Central City	Ralph Sands, Acting Warden Carol Geezer, Administrator Assistant	500	Unreinforced masonry

Table F.63. Liberty County Jail General Information

F.8.1.3.4. Unit 4 (Maximum Capacity 150)

This is the forestry and work camp, where inmates assigned to these crews train and work. Seven crews of 20 inmates each are trained to work on projects such as wildland firefighting, public works and construction, maintenance, and landscaping. One hundred and fifty inmates are housed in several wood frame structures. Also in this complex is the prison's fire department, consisting of a single Type I engine. It is used only within the institution. Forestry/work inmate crews are supported by a fleet of eight 30-passenger buses.

Figure F.4. Columbia State Prison for Men Diagram

F.8.2. Liberty County Jail (Continued)

The Liberty County Jail is a complex of four three-story reinforced concrete buildings with a capacity of 500 prisoners. One building is designated for female prisoners and will hold up to 100 female inmates. The other three buildings hold up to 400 male inmates. Additionally, there are holding cells on each floor of the buildings for in-transit and temporary prisoners.

Liberty County Jail First Floor. The diagram shows 4 buildings. 1 building is designated for female prisoners. The other 3 buildings house the male inmates. The diagrams also shows the exercise areas, kitchen/dining, holding cells, and lobbies.

Figure F.5. Liberty County Jail First Floor Diagram

Liberty County Jail Second and Third Floors. The diagram shows four buildings. One building is designated for female prisoners. The other three buildings house the male inmates. The diagrams also shows holding cells.

Figure F.6. Liberty County Jail Second and Third Floors Diagram


Address	Location	Name and Personnel Title	Capacity	Construction
Y & 19th Streets	Central City	Ronald J. Jones, Administrator	30	Unreinforced masonry

Table F.64. Central City Jail General Information

F.8.3. Central City Jail Note

This is an unreinforced masonry building with a capacity of 30 prisoners. Space is segregated for up to 23 males and seven females.


Address	Location	Name and Personnel Title	Capacity	Construction
Ferry Blvd & 2nd Ave	Bayport	Robert Mathis, Chief of Police	10	Prefabricated concrete

Table F.65. Bayport Detention Facility General Information

Holding cells for up to ten prisoners or detainees are inside this prefabricated concrete “tilt up” building. Board of Prisons certified for holding up to 24 hours only.


Address	Location	Name and Personnel Title	Capacity	Construction
T & 3rd Streets	Fisherville	Ken Pell, Chief of Police	4	Reinforced masonry

Table F.66. Fisherville Detention Facility General Information

F.8.5. Fisherville Detention Facility Note

Within the police building (a modern reinforced concrete block structure) there are holding cells designed for up to four prisoners. Board of Prisons certified for holding up to 24 hours only.


Address	Location	Name and Personnel Title	Capacity	Construction
C & 14th Streets	Fisherville	Earl Alley, Chief of Police	3	Reinforced masonry

Table F.67. Harvest Junction Detention Facility General Information

F.8.6. Harvest Junction Detention Facility Note

There are three holding cells within the police department, which is in the rear half of the City Hall building (a two story unreinforced masonry structure). Board of Prisons certified for holding up to 24 hours only.