Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution

Coordinates: 42°04′17″N 104°07′06″W / 42.07139°N 104.11833°W / 42.07139; -104.11833
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Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution
Map
Location7076 Rd 55F
Torrington, Wyoming
Statusopen
Security classmedium / mixed
Capacity720
Opened2010
Managed byWyoming Department of Corrections
DirectorSeth Norris, Warden

Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution (WMCI) is a prison for men located in Torrington, Wyoming, United States.[1][2][3] WMCI, a facility of the Wyoming Department of Corrections, serves as an intake center for men who are not sentenced to death.[4]

History[edit]

The Layton Construction Company built the WMCI facility, while DLR Group designed the institution.[5] As the prison was being prepared to house inmates, the state moved 20 prisoners from the Wyoming Honor Conservation Camp in Newcastle; the prisoners assisted preparations during the week and lived in the honor conservation camp over the weekends.[6]

The grand opening and ribbon cutting occurred on January 6, 2010.[4] The prison's first 75 offenders arrived at WMCI from the Wyoming State Penitentiary on January 13.[6] Days later more prisoners arrived, bringing the total number to over 300. The first of those inmates arrived from the Wyoming State Penitentiary on January 17. On January 20, 127 prisoners sentenced in Wyoming who were previously housed in correctional facilities in Virginia arrived at WMCI. Several days later, more Wyoming-sentenced prisoners who were previously housed in Virginia arrived at WMCI.[7]

Notable inmates[edit]

Events[edit]

In October 2021, WMCI experienced the largest surge in COVID-19 cases among prisoners and staff in Wyoming during the coronavirus pandemic.[8] Between October 11 and 18, 212 out of around 600 prisoners tested positive for the virus.[9] A group of prisoners who had not tested positive were moved into the facility's gym, and took over all cooking and cleaning duties for two weeks. Three prisoners died in hospitals that month, but their deaths have not been attributed to COVID-19.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Torrington city, Wyoming[permanent dead link]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
  2. ^ "Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution (WMCI) Archived July 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Goshen County GIS Department. 2009. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
  3. ^ "Contact Institutions." Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010. "7076 Road 55F Torrington, WY 82240"
  4. ^ a b "Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution." Wyoming Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
  5. ^ "Wyoming Medium Correctional Institution Opens Archived 2011-01-17 at the Wayback Machine." The Layton Companies. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
  6. ^ a b Patterson, Rick. "The Opening Ceremony and Then Inmates Arrive at WMCI!." Wyoming Department of Corrections Employee Newsletter. January/February 2010. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
  7. ^ Patterson, Rick. "WMCI Becomes a Prison." Wyoming Department of Corrections Employee Newsletter. March 2010. Retrieved on December 12, 2010.
  8. ^ ellen.gerst@trib.com, Ellen Gerst 307-266-0544. "A record 222 cases of COVID found in Wyoming prisons". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2021-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ ellen.gerst@trib.com, Ellen Gerst 307-266-0544. "COVID-19 cases in Wyoming prisons at highest level of pandemic". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2021-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ ellen.gerst@trib.com, Ellen Gerst 307-266-0544. "Third death at Torrington prison this month confirmed". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2021-11-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

External links[edit]

42°04′17″N 104°07′06″W / 42.07139°N 104.11833°W / 42.07139; -104.11833