Future of Prison Near Jefferson City in Doubt

The State is saving tens of thousands of dollars each month because a state prison near Jefferson City has been put in mothballs. But that status might be temporary. The last inmates left the Church Farm Prison, as it’s called, May 26th. The Governor says the state cannot afford to keep it open. Within days, only 20 people will be there – a skeleton staff to make sure the pipes don’t freeze or the roof doesn’t blow off, and that nobody breaks into a prison to steal things. The inmates who were there are now at other prisons. The Department of Corrections had enough open beds to absorb them. But Corrections Spokesman John Fougere says the extra room is rapidly being eaten up and the prison might have to be reopened within a year. One issue, though, is staffing Church Farm if it reopens. Those still with the department have been pacelled out to other area prisons that had openings.