The builders expect to hand over the building in October – time for a grand opening and lots of training before inmates move in in January and February of 2017.

Warden Steve DiCastri on the hot seat at the Regional District talking about emergency programs, fire suppression, facilities, statistics and cooperation with other agencies.

A few facts stated today: Staffing about 240 FTE and 60 contract workers. Only 35% of the entire staff transferring in – with 65% being hired as new employees to BC Corrections.

DiCastri was asked where are the BC Corrections staff locating: Penticton, Oliver, Osoyoos and all points in between. Housing is only an issue for rentals with many having to find apartments in bigger centres. Number of persons housed: 378 in the beginning 45 percent on remaind and 65 percent serving sentences. On remand average stay 34 days. If sentenced average stay 60 days. Some persons convicted of a serious crime will be house awaiting an appeal before moving to the a federal prison.

The first building to be used will be pod A as it contains a women’s unit for 20. The prison has three sections – Open, Medium level custody and high security. The catchment area for prisoners is Vernon south to the Kootenays. The warden says all effort will be made to assist persons leaving the jail to get back to the community from which the original charges were laid. “They will NOT be dropped off at the local bus depot!”

The facility offers many provincial training programs and the warden was proud in say they have a very large greenhouse to supply their demands for vegetables and will distribute an excess to local food banks. DiCastri also assured director that local supplier and local tradesmen will be utilized by the jail.

Also at the RDOS today Superintendent Kevin Hewco who reported that many criminals are in jail at the moment and the crime stats in the South Okanagan reflect that. Hewco says he is looking forward to working with the Okanagan Correctional Centre – a large mock-up event will be held in September with fire, EMS, RCMP and Corrections. Hewco says a request for two new positions to handle case load from the prison has yet to be answered by Victoria.