Population as of July 1, 2009:

General Information:

The MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution is a level 4/5, high/maximum security level multi-mission facility for adult males.  Based on its offender population, it is the largest correctional facility in New England.  It came into being on May 15, 2001 as the result of the consolidation of the Walker Reception and Special Management Unit and the MacDougall Correctional Institution and sits on a combined 140 acres.

The facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association.  During its last accreditation audit in June 2008, the institution scored a 100% on the mandatory requirements and the non-mandatory factors. 

The MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution provides a highly structured environment to manage long-term sentenced offenders, protective custody offenders and high bond unsentenced offenders with programs designed to address the needs of each population.

The facility focuses on education both academic (ABE, Pre-GED, GED, Special Education, TSOL), and at the MacDougall Building (Vocational Maintenance, Electro Mechanical, Micro Computers, Electronic Repair, Dental, and Commercial Cleaning).  Programming is also a vital component of our mission and includes Parenting Skills, Sex Offender Treatment, Family Issues, Beyond Fear, Addiction Services, Aftercare and Fellowship AA/NA meetings.

The Industries program employs up to 70 inmates, some of whom graduated from various Vocational Education programs. A Regional Commissary employs up to 60 inmates. Others are employed in various capacities in the Food Service Operation, commercial cleaning and other janitorial functions essential to the hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness of the facility.

The MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution (MacDougall building) commissary-processing center serves as a regional hub for the northern district of the state, handling more than 24,000 orders per month.

The National Institute of Corrections recognizes MacDougall-Walker (MacDougall building) internal classification system as a national model.

Present staffing: 678.

Listing of the inmate programs available at this facility (MacDougall) (PDF, 603 KB).
Listing of the inmate programs available at this facility (Walker) (PDF, 384 KB).

Visiting Schedule (PDF, 11 KB).

History:

 The Walker Building is named after Ralph H. Walker a former Warden at the Old State Prison in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

Warden Walker had a long and illustrious career.  In 1915, he began a seventeen year tenure as Warden in the Vermont State Prison and House of Correction in Windsor, Vermont.  At that time he was the youngest Warden in the country.

He then spent five years at Rhode Island prisons before moving to Wethersfield prison from 1936 to his retirement in 1954.  He often said he never had a riot or a fearful moment in the fifty-two years he spent in penal institutions.  Prior to his death in 1961, the prison directors retained him as a consultant. 

On November 9, 1992 the Walker Reception Center was opened as an Assessment Center accommodating 560 inmates.

In September 1993, the Walker Reception Center established a 48 level 2 permanent party unit of sentenced inmates established as the primary "out of unit" inmate workforce.

Between November 1993 and October 1995 the Walker Reception Center was re-titled Walker Reception and Special Management Unit (WRSMU) on assuming the mission of accommodating inmates undergoing the Administrative Segregation Program (AS).

In December 1993, the MacDougall Correctional Institution was opened as a level 4 sentenced facility accommodating 975 inmates.

In March 1995, the Walker RSMU Assessment and High Bond units opened.

During October 1995 the Walker RSMU instituted the Chronic Discipline program which continued through March of 1997.

In June 1996, the Walker RSMU High Profile (PC) unit opened.

In 2000, the Walker RSMU instituted In-Cell and Interactive Learning Program.

In May 2001, the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution was consolidated.

On October 2, 2002, this facility received accreditation through the American Correctional Association (ACA).

In January 2003 a (5-unit) 600 bed expansion was completed as part of the MacDougall building.

On September 21, 2005, the facility was reaccredited through the American Correctional Association scoring a 100% on the mandatory requirements and a 96.4% on the non-mandatory.

List of past wardens: