A prison about 45 miles outside of Las Vegas will house the state’s top offenders after inmate custody levels were transferred between two institutions.
The Nevada Department of Corrections on Wednesday announced the designation of High Desert State Prison in Indian Springs as a maximum-security facility. NDOC officials said over several days, nearly 2,000 inmates were transferred between High Desert and Ely State Prison, Nevada’s previous maximum-security institution which is now designated as medium security.
The move had been planned for several months due to an uptick in gang activity and violence.
Officials say High Desert State Prison is closer to outside law enforcement and medical services and is a newer facility with higher perimeter security standards.
Inmates on death row will be housed at High Desert, but the execution chamber will remain at Ely State Prison. Both facilities remain on institutional lockdown.