For the first time since rioting inmates destroyed six buildings three summers ago at a medium security prison near Danville, Kentucky’s Department of Corrections has started refilling the inmate population at Northpoint Training Center. After the August 2009 riot the prison’s population was cut in half. Tuesday 40 inmates were transferred to Northpoint, the start of a twice a week transfer of prisoners until the population reaches its pre-riot total of 1,256.
The ballooning of the inmate population comes after a $19 million dollar rebuild of the prison was completed. Two new buildings and upgraded security were part of the post riot work. One building includes a new kitchen, dining hall, library, medical center and commissary. The other is a new visitation center.
After the riot three of the prison’s six dormitory buildings were used to house the various operations that now occupy the new buildings.
ABC 36 News was granted access inside the razor wire fences of the prison Tuesday to see the revamped facility.
