Rivers Correctional Institution, located on 257-acre tract about one hour north of Norfolk, NC and two hours east of Raleigh, NC represents a $63 million investment for Wackenhut, according to the company's prepared statement.
It took a year for the company to build the facility. Wasckenhut has a contract to manage the prison for a three-year initial period and seven option years, a deal not to exceed a total of $327 million, minus award fees, according to the company's news release.
Not surprisingly, sites for federal correction facilities in common with other real estate transactions, must have adequate sewer and water facilities and be close to major roadways. But prison sites also have other specialized requirements such as the approval by residents in the surrounding area, points out Wackenhut President and CEO Wayne Calabrese in the prepared statement.
The Rivers facility has a campus design with four housing buildings, recreational areas, a central programs building, an administrative building exterior to the two perimeters fences, a prison industries building and four perimeter towers.
Wackenhut has contracts/awards to manage 57 correctional/detention facilities throughout the world representing 40,000 beds.
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David Wilkening
David Wilkening began his long journalism career as a police reporter for Chicago-area newspapers. He became a writer-editor for major newspapers in Chicago, Washington, Detroit and Florida. He has been a business editor, political editor and travel editor for newspapers and magazines. He tried for a while to be a political operative but did better as an adjunct college professor teaching English and journalism. He is the author of several books, both ghost-written and under his own name. He is also a widely published freelance writer who currently lives in Orlando.
