SALEM, W.Va. — The Salem Industrial Home for Youth has a new name and is under new management.
Effective Monday, the Harrison County facility is no longer the Home for Youth, but rather the Salem Correctional Center. In addition, according to a law passed by the legislature this year, control of the center is now in the hands of the West Virginia Division of Corrections.
But instead of being opened the first of July as originally hoped, the facility will not see its first inmates until August 5.
Corrections Commissioner Jim Reubenstein said they are currently working on tightening up a few loose ends at the facility in order to make the transition as smooth as possible.
“We’re doing some preliminary screening of the grounds and the building and sort of doing some polishing up and doing training of staff on site there,” he said.
When the official start date comes, building 1 at Salem will house around 200 inmates at the minimum security adult prison at first. Once all structures become available on the property, roughly 415 inmates are expected in total.
In the beginning when the transition of Salem was originally proposed by the governor’s office, the goal was to have most of the employees at the Industrial Home choose to stay and work for Corrections. Rubenstein said that is exactly what happened.
“I think maybe four or five have expressed the desire to remain with juvenile services and be transferred elsewhere,” he said. “Ninety some percent are remaining with us.”
Those employees deciding to stay have been getting extra training to convert them over from the juvenile side to the adult side. In addition, some employees with Corrections experience are being pulled from other facilities in order to help with the transition and train new staff.
Rubenstein said he isn’t too concerned about next months transition.
“I honestly feel that it’s going to be a very seamless and smooth transition once they (the employees) get the adult inmates on grounds and start operating,” Rubenstein said.
Inmates will first come from other state correctional facilities and then from regional jails. The plan is for Salem to relieve the overcrowding population at the state’s regional jails.
Rubenstein said Salem will be a great addition.
“To ultimately have a facility where we’ll be able to house probably 415 inmates was a nice pleasant surprise for us,” said Rubenstein.
Once the center is fully up and running, inmates have access to long term substance abuse treatment, adult basic education, preparation to take the GED and five vocational shops on the grounds.