DOC says Spring Creek house closure did not yield projected savings, cites capacity strains and costly fight

Department of Corrections officials told the House Finance Committee corrections subcommittee that the planned savings from closing a housing unit at Spring Creek Correctional Center have not materialized and that redistribution of residents has produced operational strain.

April Wilkerson, deputy commissioner, said House 2 at Spring Creek closed on July 14 and that population was relocated to House 1, House 3 and to other institutions. Wilkerson said the closure removed approximately 247 beds from active service and that Spring Creek is now operating at more than 100 percent capacity. She said staff did not see the expected reductions in personnel costs because the population increase elsewhere required higher custody levels and additional focused staffing.

Winkelman, commissioner for the Department of Corrections, described a yard incident two weeks before the hearing that involved about 48 inmates; she estimated the event cost the department just under $200,000 when accounting for medical treatment and transportation. Wilkerson said there are individuals waiting in segregation and other facilities for transfer into Spring Creek as population stabilizes.

Committee members asked DOC to provide a clearer breakdown of the population affected by the closure and asked for follow‑up on whether more targeted transfers could reduce costs. DOC said it would provide the committee additional information and emphasized that a comprehensive community and law‑enforcement impact study should precede any broader institutional closure.