Source: wikipedia.org
Hardin Jail
In 2004-05, a Texas development consortium convinced Hardin's industrial development authority to float bonds to build the speculative Two Rivers Regional Correctional Facility, a $27 million jail for 464 inmates mostly dormitory housing located on a 40-acre field. Officials claimed that the understanding when construction began in 2006 was that the State of Montana would send some state prisoners there. The state has denied that allegation, and the economic feasibility study used to promote the bonds had not mentioned the possibility of incarceration of sentenced state prisoners. The facility was ready to open in July 2007, but no such transfer occurred. Although the consortium’s operator, CEC/CiviGenics, sought prisoners from various states, agencies and jurisdictions, they were unsuccessful in that quest. A county sheriff termed it “basically a "warehouse, " referring to its “24-inmate rooms. [4] The Authority bonds defaulted on May 1, 2008. [5] In the fall of 2008, the facility bid to house a sexual offender program for the state but it was rejected. [6] CEC ended its contracts and withdrew its last two of its few employees on January 23, 2009. As of June 2009, no prisoners have ever been housed there.[7] The Hardin City Council and the Two Rivers Authority have proposed that, when the Guantanamo Bay prison is closed down, some of the detainees there be transferred to Two Rivers.[8] Montana's state and federal officials have universally rejected its fitness and use for Guantanamo detainees.
About Two Rivers Regional Correctional Facility
Promoted by a consortium of Texan developers/operators, construction began on the Two Rivers Regional Correctional Facility, located in Hardin, Montana, in 2006 and was completed in July 2007. It fostered the hopes of creating 100-plus jobs and stimulating the economy of the small town of 3,400.
The prison, a 464-bed minimum security detention facility, was built with $27 million of high interest revenue bonds issued by the City's industrial development authority.[1] and sold by bond brokers Municipal Capital Markets and Herbert J. Sims.
Lacking any revenue and with its insurance having run out, the facility defaulted on its bonds on May 1, 2008.
In the fall of 2008, unsuccessful at attracting contracts from various states, tribes and federal agencies, it was proposed to the state of Montana to house a sexual offender program. That bid was also rejected. A Montana sheriff had described it as "a warehouse."
In January 2009, the contract between the Hardin industrial development authority was cancelled and the operator, Community Education Centers, withdrew its last two employees.
In March 2009, the Hardin city council voted 5-0 to back a proposal to bring detainees from the United States detention camps at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, although state congressional leaders have opposed the plan.
The prison has never housed any prisoners.
