Rivers Correctional Facility

BACKGROUND

The National Capital Revitalization Act of 1997 mandated that the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) house District of Columbia sentenced felons in private contract facilities. The BOP adopted a course of action that included soliciting competitive bids for contract facilities, closing the existing Lorton facility, and transferring the inmates to the contracted facilities. On March 7, 2000, the BOP signed a contract with The GEO Group, Inc. (GEO) to provide and operate a low security, adult male facility in Winton, North Carolina. Construction began within a week of contract signing and on March 7, 2001, the BOP approved the completed facility and issued a Notice to Proceed. GEO successfully operated the facility under this original contract through March 2011 and was awarded a new contract to continue operations at Rivers through March 2015.

Located on a 257-acre tract in a rural area west of Winton, North Carolina, in Hertford County, the facility is a 347,155 sq. ft. campus design with four housing buildings, indoor and outdoor recreational areas, a central programs building, an administrative building exterior to the two perimeter fences, a prison industries building, and four perimeter guard towers. The healthcare unit’s design is consistent with the predicted needs of the population. A large, fully equipped kitchen provides meals for inmates and staff.

ACCREDITATION:

The facility received initial accreditation from the American Correctional Association (ACA) in 2003 and was reaccredited in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018 with a score of 100%. The facility was also accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) in 2003 and was reaccredited in 2015.