New era begins for corrections

Long-awaited Residential Correctional Facility opens

By JOHN MOLSEED, Messenger staff writer
Rain forced a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the new Fort Dodge Residential Correctional Facility indoors Friday, but it didn’t dampen spirits.

The new facility will replace the outdated one on the corner of Seventh Street and First Avenue North.

‘‘You worked in a unique facility,’’ said John Baldwin, director of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services. The probation/parole officers who share the antiquated office space chuckled at Baldwin’s diplomatic statement.

More than 100 people attended the event.

‘‘It’s been a long time coming,’’ said Linda Murken, director of the Second Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.

The old building housed probation/parole offices and offenders transitioning from prison to returning to the community for 22 years. It offered little space for those working and living there. It also provided little security for employees.

‘‘I believe we need to protect the people who protect us from the worst of our society,’’ said state Sen. Daryl Beall, D-Fort Dodge.

‘‘The fact that we had few issues is a tribute to the staff,’’ said Jeff Larson, residential division manager of the Second Judicial District Department of Correctional Services.

The facility will also house women. Only three other facilities in the state have that capacity. Larson said being able to house offenders closer to their homes and family helps them with their rehabilitation.

‘‘This is much more secure,’’ said Russ Goebel, probation/parole officer, adding the inmates weren’t always his concern. Sometimes taking the elevator up to his second floor office could be hazardous.

‘‘One time it stopped and started smoking,’’ he said. ‘‘I thought ‘this is it.’’’

Staff psychologist Mike Ryan said the building layout is efficient and triples the space for holding meetings and offender programs.

‘‘Our goal is to keep these rooms as busy as we can,’’ he said.

The programs and classes that will keep those rooms busy is what makes Iowa stand out in correctional services, said Baldwin.

‘‘We’ve had multiple people come through Iowa and marvel at what we have done,’’

Murken thanked state, city and county leaders for their support in getting the facility built. She thanked former Webster County Supervisor Floyd Magnusson and former City Councilwoman Jane Burleson for their roles when the department of corrections needed two last strips of city- and county-owned land.

‘‘We just approached them and said ’can we just have it?’ and they said yes,’’ Murken said.

City Councilwoman Cindy Litwiller said the new facility helps revitalize a part of downtown Fort Dodge.

That part of downtown was an empty hole less than two years ago. Officials broke ground there June 23, 2006. Two years later, it’s ready to open.



Contact John Molseed at (515) 573-2141 or jmolseed@messengernews.net