Northpoint Training Center
Encyclopedia
Northpoint Training Center is a medium-security prison located near Danville, Kentucky
. It opened in 1983 and had a prison capacity of 1,256 as of 2006.
called Kentucky State Hospital.
From 1941 to 1946, the U.S. Army controlled the facilities and renamed Darnell Hospital. It was used to provide care for soldiers suffering from psychiatric illness and to contain German
prisoners of war (POWs).
In 1946, the hospital was returned to state control for the sum of $1. The facilities were again operated as the Kentucky State Hospital until 1977.
From July 1977 through February 1983, the Kentucky Bureau of Social Services operated the facilities as the Danville Youth Development Center, a youth center for juvenile offenders.
In January 1983, the Kentucky Department of Corrections received control of the property, and renamed it Northpoint Training Center. It was intended as a minimum-security institution for fewer than 500 inmates, but quickly changed to a medium-security institution with a proposed population of approximately 700 inmates.
The perimeter of the secure compound is a double fence 12 feet (3.7 m) high, with razor wire on the bottom and top. The inner perimeter fence has a sensor system that alerts the main control in the event of contact, four armed wall towers, an outside patrol, and a control center. Minimum-Security inmates are housed in two structures outside the secure perimeter.
Five buildings were set on fire, including the kitchen, medical, visiting, canteen, and a multi-purpose building. By 10:30pm that night, the prison's Corrections Emergency Response Team
had subdued the Inmates. Some inmates sustained minor injuries. Damage to the facility was so extensive that some of the 1,200 inmates at the prison were transported to other prisons. The prison had been on lockdown since August 18, when a black inmate and a white inmate were assaulted by 10-15 Hispanic inmates.
Danville, Kentucky
Danville is a city in and the county seat of Boyle County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,218 at the 2010 census.Danville is the principal city of the Danville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Boyle and Lincoln counties....
. It opened in 1983 and had a prison capacity of 1,256 as of 2006.
History
Northpoint was originally constructed as a state mental hospitalPsychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
called Kentucky State Hospital.
From 1941 to 1946, the U.S. Army controlled the facilities and renamed Darnell Hospital. It was used to provide care for soldiers suffering from psychiatric illness and to contain German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
prisoners of war (POWs).
In 1946, the hospital was returned to state control for the sum of $1. The facilities were again operated as the Kentucky State Hospital until 1977.
From July 1977 through February 1983, the Kentucky Bureau of Social Services operated the facilities as the Danville Youth Development Center, a youth center for juvenile offenders.
In January 1983, the Kentucky Department of Corrections received control of the property, and renamed it Northpoint Training Center. It was intended as a minimum-security institution for fewer than 500 inmates, but quickly changed to a medium-security institution with a proposed population of approximately 700 inmates.
Status
Northpoint consists of 551 acres (223 ha) and approximately 50 structures. It has a bed capacity of 1,256 inmates, consisting of 1,108 general population medium-security beds, 60 special management beds, and 40 minimum-security beds. General population inmates are housed in six open-bay dormitories. Special Management Unit inmates are housed in single cells in a 60-bed structure separated from the main compound.The perimeter of the secure compound is a double fence 12 feet (3.7 m) high, with razor wire on the bottom and top. The inner perimeter fence has a sensor system that alerts the main control in the event of contact, four armed wall towers, an outside patrol, and a control center. Minimum-Security inmates are housed in two structures outside the secure perimeter.
2009 riot
On the evening of August 21, 2009, 60 to 80 inmates were involved in a riot at the facility.Five buildings were set on fire, including the kitchen, medical, visiting, canteen, and a multi-purpose building. By 10:30pm that night, the prison's Corrections Emergency Response Team
Correctional Emergency Response Team
A Correctional Emergency Response Team , Special Emergency Response Team for Correction , or Special Operation Response Team is a team of highly trained corrections officers in the United States tasked with responding to incidents, riots, cell extractions, mass searches, or disturbances in...
had subdued the Inmates. Some inmates sustained minor injuries. Damage to the facility was so extensive that some of the 1,200 inmates at the prison were transported to other prisons. The prison had been on lockdown since August 18, when a black inmate and a white inmate were assaulted by 10-15 Hispanic inmates.