Wildwood Correctional Complex
Encyclopedia
The Wildwood Correctional Complex, located three miles north of Kenai, Alaska
, is a complex of correctional facilities housing a total of about 360 prisoners and under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Department of Corrections
. It consists of Wildwood Correctional Center (Building 10), a 255-bed medium custody long term facility housing sentenced adult male felon and misdemeanor prisoners and also including a correctional industries program, and Wildwood Pre-Trial Facility (Building 5), a 113-bed facility housing male and female adult felon and misdemeanor prisoners of all custody levels.
Wildwood was originally known as Wildwood Army Station, constructed by the U.S. Army as a military communications base in 1951 (completed 1953). In 1965, it was transferred to the U.S. Air Force and became known as Wildwood Air Force Station. In 1974, it was turned over to the Kenai Native Association as part of the Alaska Native land claims settlement
. In 1983, the State of Alaska leased a portion of the facility for use as a correctional and pre-trial facility, with an option to buy at the end of three years, a purchase which took place in December 1992.
Kenai, Alaska
Kenai is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 7,464...
, is a complex of correctional facilities housing a total of about 360 prisoners and under the jurisdiction of the Alaska Department of Corrections
Alaska Department of Corrections
The Department of Corrections of the state of Alaska is an agency of the state government responsible for corrections. The Department manages institutions, parole and probation. The current commissioner is Joe Schimdt...
. It consists of Wildwood Correctional Center (Building 10), a 255-bed medium custody long term facility housing sentenced adult male felon and misdemeanor prisoners and also including a correctional industries program, and Wildwood Pre-Trial Facility (Building 5), a 113-bed facility housing male and female adult felon and misdemeanor prisoners of all custody levels.
Wildwood was originally known as Wildwood Army Station, constructed by the U.S. Army as a military communications base in 1951 (completed 1953). In 1965, it was transferred to the U.S. Air Force and became known as Wildwood Air Force Station. In 1974, it was turned over to the Kenai Native Association as part of the Alaska Native land claims settlement
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, commonly abbreviated ANCSA, was signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon on December 23, 1971, the largest land claims settlement in United States history. ANCSA was intended to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding aboriginal land claims in...
. In 1983, the State of Alaska leased a portion of the facility for use as a correctional and pre-trial facility, with an option to buy at the end of three years, a purchase which took place in December 1992.