Master plan outlines major prison construction needs

The state Public Works Board was briefed this week on a master plan for the Department of Corrections that would require upward of $300 million in new construction over the four legislative sessions.The new and expanded prison facilities are necessary, according to consultants Arrington Watkins Architects, to increase total capacity by 984 beds.Prison officials told the Board of Examiners in June the inmate population is already nearly 700 higher than projections used to build the current budge