Wyoming Women's Center

Lusk, Wyoming 

 

 Warden:  Dan Shannon
 Deputy Warden:  Martha Decker
 Address:  P.O. Box 300/1000 West Griffith, Lusk, WY 82225-0020
 Phone:  307.334.3693
 Fax:  307.334.2254
 E-mail: cthaye@wdoc.state.wy.us

 

 

 

Inmate Count

(as of 2/18/2010)

190

 

 

 

The Wyoming Women’s Center (WWC) is a full service facility addressing incarcerated offenders. It is the sole adult female facility within the State of Wyoming. WWC houses all custody levels, minimum through maximum offenders. The institution is located on 71 acres of state property and consists of two buildings. The main building includes inmate housing, recreation, industries, maintenance, education and administration. The second building houses WWC’s Aquaculture program.

Additional programming, education and prison industry bays were constructed as part of the expansion project. An Aquaculture Center was constructed and serves as a grow-out facility for tilapia fish. This program provides employment and education opportunities for inmates.

Evidence and cognitive based programs are utilized at this facility. This institution provides educational and vocational training to inmates such as ABE/GED, critical thinking, college classes, workforce development services, parenting, Emotions Anonymous, computer classes and religious services. Programs are offered with an adult learning, self-paced center modeled after the community college system. The majority of the inmates enter the programs at the adult basic education level and build their skills towards obtaining their GED to further their employment opportunities. WWC also offers the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Core Program. This is a national certification, certifying these individuals for the basic trades program. WWC offers culinary training, arts apprenticeship program and dietary management training.

WWC also houses an Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU). The ITU unit is a 32-bed, modified therapeutic community. It is designed to educate and treat women with substance abuse histories to develop and enact the skills necessary to maintain a sober and productive lifestyle upon release. In addition to daily community meetings, AA/NA meetings and group sessions are designed to address issues such as effective parenting, corrective thinking, establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, and relapse prevention.  

 

 

Wyoming Women’s Center’s History

• Initially the Women’s Center was established on June, 20, 1977, temporarily located on Wyoming State Hospital grounds in Evanston, Wyoming.
•  In 1980 the legislature formally created the Wyoming Women’s Center and by 1981 authorized the establishment of a permanent facility in Lusk, Wyoming.
• The original housing capacity of the Women’s Center facility was 82 beds.
• In 1996 Housing capacity was increased to 144 by placing double bunks in the west end of the facility. 
• As of the conclusion of the most recent construction, the housing capacity is now 261 for the main facility and an additional 32 beds in the Intensive Treatment Unit.

 

2007 Expansion Project

• WWC underwent construction in 2004 through 2007. 
• The expansion nearly doubled the size of the facility from 72,000 square feet to

  Fish tanks in the Aquaculture Center

  140,000 square feet.
• The construction project included an addition of 108 beds and a 32-bed Intensive Treatment Unit.
• The kitchen and dining areas where expanded.
• New educational, vocational and industries areas where added.
• The industries area now includes a new supply and laundry area.
• The Aquaculture building is where tilapia fish are raised.

 

Wardens of the Wyoming Women’s Center

 

 

To learn more about the community of Lusk, Wyoming, visit the following website:

• Niobrara County Chamber of Commerce  www.luskwyoming.com or e-mail the Chamber of Commerce at luskchamberofcommerce@yahoo.com 

 

 

 

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