Brunswick Prison: Location And History

There are several prisons named Brunswick Prison. The Brunswick Correctional Center was a prison in unincorporated Brunswick County, Virginia, near Lawrenceville. It was closed in 2009. There is also a Brunswick County NC Detention Center in Bolivia, North Carolina. In Canada, there is a Dorchester Penitentiary in Dorchester, New Brunswick, and an Atlantic Institution in Renous, New Brunswick.

Brunswick Correctional Center, Virginia

Brunswick Correctional Center was a prison in unincorporated Brunswick County, Virginia, near Lawrenceville. The prison was once a bustling facility with 700-800 employees, but in 2009, it faced budget cuts and was scheduled to close, impacting the local economy and causing job losses. The state offered the property for sale, and by 2015, the Virginia General Assembly approved a motion for the corrections department to demolish the vacant buildings.

The facility, located at 1147 Planters Road, PO Box 207C, Lawrenceville, VA, 23868, served multiple purposes. It was a reception and classification center for women, offering a higher custody level for these inmates. The center also served as a work center for minimum-security offenders, providing job opportunities within the prison or through work release programs in the community. Inmates qualified for level 1 security if they had no convictions for murder, sex offenses, or kidnapping and no history of escape or recent disciplinary issues.

The adult correction facility had a capacity of approximately 708 inmates and offered various rehabilitation programs. Visitation was allowed on Saturdays and Sundays, with guests required to adhere to attire requirements and security screening. The prison maintained strict rules for inmate mail, and phone calls were controlled and required the use of a sanctioned service provider.

The closing of the Brunswick Correctional Center had a significant impact on the local community, with critics arguing that it harmed economic prospects as the area lacked other job opportunities. The state's decision to close the prison was driven by budget constraints, with the expected savings of $10,400,000 per year for the state government.

Brunswick County NC Detention Center

The Brunswick County Detention Center is located at 70 Stamp Act Drive, Bolivia, North Carolina, 28422. The center was constructed in 2005, with operations officially moving into the facility in June of that year. It replaced an old 75-bed facility, initially providing 196 beds. However, as the population of Brunswick County grew, the facility underwent an expansion in 2008, increasing the total number of beds to 444. The center is designed to be modular, allowing for further expansion as the county's population continues to increase.

The detention center operates under the authority of the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office and is directed by the Detention Command Staff. It serves the community by providing safe, secure, and humane detention for individuals in custody while preparing them for a successful return to society. The center is committed to operating with integrity, loyalty, and service, striving to provide a secure and progressive environment for both staff and inmates.

The Brunswick County Detention Center houses inmates charged with or convicted of various criminal and civil offenses, as ordered by the court. Most of the sentenced inmates are there for less than two years, and the center accepts inmates from surrounding towns, the Bolivia Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service. The center provides onsite inmate visits, allowing inmates one on-site visit per week. These visits are non-contact video visits, and visitors must adhere to strict rules and guidelines to ensure the safety and security of the facility.

The center also offers various programs for inmates, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, religious services, and General Educational Development (GED) classes. These programs aim to reduce idleness, encourage productivity, and promote a sense of accomplishment among the inmates.

Old Brunswick County Jail Museum, Southport

The Old Brunswick County Jail Museum in Southport, North Carolina, is a fascinating and educational glimpse into the past. Located on the corner of Nash and Rhett Streets, this multi-story brick building is an iconic site in downtown Southport. The jail was built in 1904 for a low bid of $6,738 and served as the town and county's primary jail for over 70 years. It is now a museum, allowing visitors to step back in time and imagine what it was like to be incarcerated there.

The Old Brunswick County Jail Museum is a two-story brick structure, with the living quarters for the jailor and their family on the first floor and two cells and a runabout on the second floor. Each cell was designed to hold four prisoners, with a commode and a wash basin. The cells are constructed of flat iron bars riveted together, and the windows are covered in iron bars. Visitors can see the original graffiti drawn by prisoners on the walls upstairs, as well as the patched hole in the wall from an escape attempt.

The Old Brunswick County Jail Museum is open to the public and offers guided tours conducted by knowledgeable docents. It is typically open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm from April through October, as well as Fridays from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm in July and August. The museum is closed during the winter months to allow time for maintenance and the addition of new displays. A suggested donation of $5 per adult visitor is appreciated to help maintain the building and exhibits.

The Old Brunswick County Jail Museum is a unique historic site in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina. It has been featured in films such as "Crimes of the Heart," and visitors can learn about its role in the law enforcement history of the 20th century. The museum is well-preserved and offers a glimpse into the other side of life, where prisoners were held captive behind brick walls and iron bars.

Dorchester Penitentiary, New Brunswick

Dorchester Penitentiary, also known as Dorchester Jail, is a Canadian federal corrections facility located in the village of Dorchester, New Brunswick. It is one of the oldest correctional facilities in Canada, having opened on 14 July 1880. The land for the prison was purchased in 1865 from Edward Barron Chandler, one of the Fathers of Confederation. The facility is situated on 4902 Main Street, Dorchester, next to the Village of Memramcook and shares a property with Westmorland Institution and Shepody Healing Centre.

The penitentiary was initially a maximum-security facility, but it has since been downgraded to handle medium-security offenders. Dorchester Penitentiary is known for its specialised handling of Protective Custody offenders and providing psychiatric services to the CSC Atlantic Region, resulting in an older offender population compared to other institutions. The facility has a rated capacity of 397 for its medium-security site and 302 for its minimum-security site.

The prison has a rich history, including the notorious last double hanging in New Brunswick in 1936, where the Bannister Brothers were executed. It is also the only privately-owned Death Row and Provincial Jail in Canada. The grey stone walls of the penitentiary have dominated the village of Dorchester for over a century, impacting the lives of its citizens.

The Dorchester Penitentiary has a few structures recognised as Heritage buildings. The main prison building, constructed in 1880, was made of stone and originally contained 120 cells. The prison museum, established in the mid-1960s, offers a glimpse into the daily life of officers and inmates, contraband items, and punishment methods employed within the facility.

Atlantic Institution, New Brunswick

Atlantic Institution (French: Établissement de l'Atlantique) is a Canadian federal corrections facility located in the community of Renous, New Brunswick. It is a two-hour drive from Moncton. The prison is situated on the north bank of the Southwest Miramichi River, on a property that was formerly used as an ammunition depot by the Canadian Forces.

The facility was opened in 1987, after the aging Dorchester Penitentiary was deemed unsuitable for the evolving focus of correctional services for repeat and violent offenders. As a result, the Dorchester Penitentiary was downgraded to handle medium-security prisoners.

Atlantic Institution is a maximum-security prison that handles male offenders only. Over the years, it has housed several notorious criminals, including serial killer Allan Legere, Moncton shooter Justin Bourque, and George Pitt, convicted of the rape and murder of a 6-year-old girl.

The prison has been the site of several incidents, including assaults, overdoses, and drug seizures. In one notable case, an inmate, Dany Bernatchez, died in October 2022 while in custody following a 'serious assault'. Another incident involved the evacuation and hospitalisation of two inmates after an altercation.

In terms of its operations, a report by Canada's prison watchdog raised concerns about the use of force at the Atlantic Institution. The report highlighted an "entrenched staff culture and attitude" that prioritises security over other ways of dealing with conflict and non-compliant behaviour. The report also noted an over-reliance on the use of pepper spray to control inmates.

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