Farmington chosen to get community supervision center

FARMINGTON – The city was one of seven locations in the state to be chosen to receive a community supervision center.

The community supervision center will be located near the Farmington Correctional Center and the St. Francois County Jail.

One-time construction costs for each 30-bed facility is estimated at about $4 million. About 90 percent of the construction costs will be funded by the federal government. One-time equipment purchases for each facility is estimated to be about $400,000.

Each center will provide about 15 to 20 jobs.

According to a press release issued by the state, the Department of Corrections believes providing a community-based, short-term intervention option in areas of the state that contribute the most annual prison admissions is one critical step to reduce the prison growth rate. Officials believe implementing these community-based alternatives means the department will delay the need for a new prison.

Each center will include an administrative area to accommodate existing probation and parole district offices located in that area as well as sufficient program/classroom areas and dormitory housing space for 30 offenders in need of structured residential supervision.

Each center will provide short-term residential services for offenders who otherwise would have been housed within prisons.

These offenders include individuals convicted of Class C and D felonies with no previous criminal convictions who are need of short-term deterrence or substance abuse treatment.

In addition, the center would house offenders at risk for revocation by the courts or the Parole Board for technical violations of probation or parole, and those approved for release from prison who do not have an appropriate home plan.

The city submitted a proposal to the state a year and a half ago. They were selected as a site, pending funding approval. The funding has recently been approved, according to state officials.