Bergin Correctional Institution

Last updated
Bergin Correctional Institution
Bergin Correctional Institution
Location Storrs, Connecticut
Coordinates 41°48′47″N72°17′50″W / 41.81306°N 72.29722°W / 41.81306; -72.29722
StatusClosed
Security classLevel 2 (Low)
Capacity600
Opened1989
ClosedAugust 12, 2011
Managed by Connecticut, Department of Correction
Director
Wardens [1]
  • 1989-1991 William D. Morabito
  • 1991-1994 Mary H. Buell
  • 1994-2001 Evelyn Bush
  • 2001-2003 Sandra A. Sawicki
  • 2003-2009 Eileen Higgins

Bergin Correctional Institution was a low-security state prison for men in Storrs, Connecticut. It was built in 1988 as the Northeast Correctional Institution and received its first inmates on March 13, 1989. [1] After briefly closing in 1997 and reopening in 1999, the prison closed for good on August 12, 2011, due to years of declining prisoner population. [2]

Contents

History

The buildings and campus of Bergin Correctional Institution have been put to a number of uses by the State of Connecticut. Before being converted to a prison, the property was part of the Mansfield Training School and Hospital for people with mental disabilities. [3] As the Mansfield Training School, portions of the property are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [4]

The Northeast Correctional Institution was established as a pre-release center for inmates nearing the end of their sentences and specialized in preparing inmates for re-integration into society. [5] It had a number of occupational and substance-abuse treatment programs available, and housed inmates in dormitory-style housing and in cottages. [3]

The prison closed in 1997 but reopened in 1999. [5] On February 3, 2001, the name of the prison was changed to honor late Captain Donald T. Bergin, who had helped open the institution. [1] The prison closed for good on August 12, 2011, due to years of declining prisoner population and budget cuts. [5]

The University of Connecticut leased the former prison for offices and laboratory space. [6] The university acquired the property in March 2015, aiming to redevelop the prison sleeping rooms and gymnasium into project rooms and offices. [7] These plans fell through, and UConn transferred the property back to the state in December 2021. The site is considered for the future location of a new regional technical high school, which would replace Windham Technical High School in Willimantic. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mansfield, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

Mansfield is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 25,892 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Connecticut</span> Public university in Storrs, Connecticut, U.S.

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public land-grant research university system whose main campus is in Storrs, Connecticut. It was founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School, named after two brothers who donated the land for the school. In 1893, the school became a public land grant college, becoming the University of Connecticut in 1939. Over the following decade, social work, nursing and graduate programs were established, while the schools of law and pharmacy were also absorbed into the university. During the 1960s, UConn Health was established for new medical and dental schools. UConn is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodi Rell</span> 87th Governor of Connecticut

Mary Carolyn "Jodi" Rell is an American former Republican politician who served as the 87th governor of Connecticut from 2004 until 2011. Rell also served as the state's 105th lieutenant governor of Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. O. Smith High School</span> Public school in Storrs, Connecticut, United States

E. O. Smith High School, named after a member of Connecticut's legislature and former University of Connecticut president Edwin O. Smith, is a secondary school located in Storrs, Connecticut, United States. E.O. Smith was established by the University of Connecticut in 1958 as the first high school in the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Connecticut School of Law</span> Law school of the University of Connecticut

The University of Connecticut School of Law is the law school associated with the University of Connecticut and located in Hartford, Connecticut. It is the only public law school in Connecticut and one of only four in New England. In 2020 it enrolled 488 JD students.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Connecticut Health Center</span> Hospital in Connecticut, United States

UConn Health is the branch of the University of Connecticut that oversees clinical care, advanced biomedical research, and academic education in medicine. The main branch is located in Farmington, Connecticut, in the US. It includes a teaching hospital, the UConn School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, and Graduate School. Other community care satellite locations exist in Avon, Canton, East Hartford, Putnam, Simsbury, Southington, Storrs, Torrington, West Hartford, and Willimantic, including two urgent cares in both Storrs and Canton. The university owns and operates many smaller clinics around the state that contain UConn Medical Group, UConn Health Partners, University Dentists and research facilities. Andrew Agwunobi stepped down as the CEO of UConn Health in February 2022 after serving since 2014 for a private-sector job. Bruce Liang is UConn Heath's interim CEO and remains dean of the UConn School of Medicine.

Michael P. Lawlor is an American politician, criminal justice professor, and lawyer from Connecticut. A Democrat, he served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1987 to 2011, representing the 99th district in East Haven. Lawlor resigned from the legislature on January 4, 2011 to serve in Dan Malloy's administration as undersecretary for criminal justice policy and planning at the Office of Policy and Management.

Lantz v. Coleman is a Connecticut superior court case that addresses the constitutionality of forcibly feeding prison inmates on hunger strikes. The court ruled in favor of force feeding.

Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust, or Joshua's Trust, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) land trust operating in northeast Connecticut. Joshua's Trust was incorporated in 1966 to help conserve property of significant natural or historic interest. As of 2011, the Trust protects more than 5,000 acres, maintains 42 miles of trails that are open to the public, holds educational outreach programs, and publishes the Joshua's Tract Walkbook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut Department of Children and Families</span>

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) is a state agency of Connecticut providing family services. Its headquarters is in Hartford.

Wethersfield State Prison was the second state prison in the state of Connecticut. Used between 1827 and 1963, it was later demolished and the site turned into a park on the banks of the Connecticut River.

The Carl Robinson Correctional Institution is a Connecticut Department of Correction state prison for men located in Enfield, Connecticut. The facility was opened in 1985 for medium-security inmates with a capacity of 880.

The Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center is a Level 3 & 4 high-security prison with two facilities for male offenders, in the Uncasville section of Montville, Connecticut. The prison was opened on December 30, 1994. It is a part of the Connecticut Department of Correction.

The Connecticut Juvenile Training School (CJTS) was a juvenile prison in Middletown, Connecticut that operated under the Connecticut Department of Children and Families from 2001 to 2018. Established in proximity to the Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH), CJTS held male inmates from age 12-17 with capacity for 240 inmates. In 2021, Connecticut governor Ned Lamont announced that he was considering reopening the prison to hold immigrant children.

Long Lane School was a prison for juvenile inmates in Middletown, Connecticut. Historically a prison for delinquent girls, it underwent various name changes, was acquired by the state in 1924, and began housing boys in 1972. Prior to its 2003 closure, it was operated by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, and was for inmates of the ages 11–16. It was a locked and high-security facility. In its lifetime, Long Lane remained unfenced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edwina Whitney</span> American librarian and educator (1868–1970)

Edwina Maud Whitney was an American librarian and educator who served as one of the earliest librarians at the Connecticut Agricultural College from 1900 to 1934. She also served as a German instructor from 1901 to 1926 and an assistant professor of German from 1926 to 1934.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles and Augustus Storrs</span> American brothers who co-founded the University of Connecticut

Charles Storrs and Augustus Storrs were American business partners and brothers who played a key role in establishing the Storrs Agricultural School in 1881.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Stemmons</span> Editor and historian of the University of Connecticut

Walter Campbell Stemmons (1884–1965) was an American writer who served as Professor of Journalism and University Editor at the University of Connecticut from 1918 to 1954. He wrote Connecticut Agricultural College: A History (1931), published on the 50th anniversary of UConn's founding.

Annie E. Vinton was an American postmistress, politician, and dignitary of Mansfield, Connecticut. She served in the Connecticut House of Representatives. A local elementary school and University of Connecticut dormitory are named in her honor.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Department of Correction, State of Connecticut, Bergin Correctional Institution, Department of Correction, 2013, http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1499&q=265386, accessed on 2 December 2013
  2. "Bergin Correctional Institution". Connecticut Department of Corrections . Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  3. 1 2 Pat Eaton-Robb, "APNewsBreak: UConn looks to lease former prison", Yahoo News 27 November 2012, accessed on 3 December 2013
  4. .Jan Cunningham and John Herzan (March 10, 1987). "NRHP Inventory-Nomination: Mansfield Training School and Hospital / Mansfield Training School". National Park Service. and Accompanying 16 photos, from 1986
  5. 1 2 3 Christopher Keating, "State Would Close Minimum Security Prison To Save Money Under "Plan B" - Donald T. Bergin prison in Storrs, CT", The Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT) 11 May 2011, accessed on 3 December 2013
  6. Megan, Kathleen (2012-11-27). "UConn may lease former prison in Mansfield". Hartford Courant. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  7. Skahill, Patrick (2015-08-25). "UConn to Develop Former Prison Into Classroom and Lab Space". Connecticut Public. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
  8. "State hoping to use former prison site for high school". AP News. 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2022-01-27.