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Bob Applegate (503) 378-6496
Leslie Carlson (503) 378-6307

GOVERNOR SELECTS WILSONVILLE FOR WOMEN´S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND INTAKE CENTER
 
Governor John Kitzhaber announced today that he would accept the recommendations of his Correction Facility Siting Authority and selected the Dammasch site for a 1,100 bed women´s correctional facility and intake center. The intake center will be the primary processing location for inmates entering the state´s prison system.
 
"This has been a difficult and contentious process for everyone involved," said Kitzhaber. "But the Dammasch site will allow Oregonians to have an efficient correctional system in which the entire state will share in the burden of housing our inmates."
 
The site, formerly a mental hospital, was selected after a 10-month process. It was originally nominated by the siting authority in December, 1996. However, at the urging of local governments in the metropolitan area, Gov. Kitzhaber directed the siting authority to continue the process and examine other sites.
 
"There has been an exhaustive public process that has identified this site," said Kitzhaber. "I am confident that of the sites that were considered in the metropolitan area for this facility, this is the one that best fit all the criteria."
 
Kitzhaber said the Corrections Department would be working with members of the Wilsonville community to ensure that the facility would be built and operated with the community´s concerns in mind. "I sympathize with those in the Wilsonville community who do not want a correctional facility in their area," said Kitzhaber. "But Oregonians have made it clear that we need to be tougher on criminals. This means building more prisons -- and every region of the state has to be able to accept the responsibility for this task."
 
The governor will receive recommendations from the siting authority later this month for facilities in Lane and Jackson counties.

 
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