Women prisoners moved to Strafford County Jail

GOFFSTOWN - The population at the Strafford County House of Corrections increased on Thursday with the addition of 37 female inmates from the New Hampshire State Prison for Women in Goffstown.

The minimum-security female offenders from Goffstown were transferred Thursday morning. 

State Department of Corrections Spokesman Jeff Lyons said the women were reassigned because of overcrowding in Goffstown, a problem that's been brewing for years but really came to a head this year.

The facility is meant to house 105 inmates but was 40 over, Lyons said. He attributed the overpopulation to a nationwide increase in female prisoners who commit more violent crimes.

"The crimes are becoming more serious, which means longer sentences," he said.

The 37 reassigned to Strafford County are considered minimum security inmates, which is a reflection of good behavior while at Goffstown, inmates being near the end of their sentence or parole dates and inmates who already have completed treatment programs, he said.

"These are inmates who are seen as not threats to staff, other inmates and the institution," Lyons said.

The house of corrections signed a two-year contract at $1.3 million dollars to house the inmates. Bids were put out to other facilities, but with Strafford County being a newer facility, it had more space, Lyons said.

County Administrator Ray Bower said he's been aware of the overcrowding of female inmates in the state and wanted to help.

"There were several factors that led us to making the bid. We were able to fit them into the facility because of open female beds and the revenue for the county," he said. "We're happy to be helping out the state and gain revenue for the county."

Bower added that the minimum-security female offenders also fit well into the jail's population. 

All the new inmates were transferred into the facility by Thursday afternoon.

"The move couldn't have gone better; we had a well-conceived plan, and everyone is settled," he said.

The state is continuing to look at long-term goals for addressing the needs of female offenders. An administrator for female programs was appointed in July, and the department has assigned an additional counselor for the Goffstown facility.