Big Turnaround for Grafton's North Coast Correctional Treatment Facility.

Business Editors

GRAFTON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2002

In barely more than a year, the once-troubled North Coast Correctional Treatment Facility (NCCTF) in Grafton has been transformed into one of the most efficient correctional facilities in Ohio. Last week the 550-bed prison earned near-perfect scores from a 16-member team of Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) inspectors.

Auditors spent two days at North Coast carefully reviewing: staff training, security, inmate education programs, health and sanitation, medical operations, kitchen cleanliness, and several other aspects of the operation. The inspectors gave NCCTF a 100 percent score on mandatory tests. The facility also passed rigorous standards from the American Correctional Association (ACA) with a 98.8 percent approval. Each of these high scores is near the top of all ratings for Ohio correctional facilities this year. Additionally, North Coast passed the particularly challenging ODRC standards with a 92.2 percent approval rating.

"The North Coast staff takes its mission very seriously," said new warden, Jackie Thomas. "Staff determination to make this facility succeed is evident. They are determined to provide a safe and secure facility, as well as provide greater taxpayer value."

Utah-based MTC was selected by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction last year to assume management of North Coast. MTC began operation on July 1, 2001. At that time the Grafton site was not performing up to ODRC standards.

"We're very proud of the work being done at North Coast," said MTC Corrections Vice President Ron Russell. "Our company pledged to be a good corporate neighbor and to turn this facility around quickly. The audit results indicate we are accomplishing those goals. Warden Thomas has taken control of what is now one of the best-run correctional facilities within the MTC system."

The third largest private operator of secure adult facilities in the world, MTC has one contract each in Australia and Canada, as well as 16 correctional facilities in Ohio, Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona.

Management and Training Corp. also has more than 20 years experience operating Job Corps centers for the United States Department of Labor, including the Dayton Job Corps Center and Cincinnati Job Corps Center in Ohio. Disadvantaged youth ages 16-24 are offered vocational, academic and social skills training at 23 MTC-managed Job Corps centers nationwide.