United States Disciplinary Barracks - Current Facility

Current Facility

A new state-of-the-art, 515-bed, USDB became operational in September 2002, replacing the old stone wall and brick castle.

The new barracks opened at a cost of $67.8 million and is about a mile north of the original barracks. It is on 51 acres (210,000 m2) on the site of the former USDB Farm Colony and is enclosed by two separate 14-foot (4.3 m) high fences. There are three housing units each of which can accommodate up to 142. The units described as "pods" are two-tiered triangular shaped domiciles. The cells in the new facility have solid doors and a window. There are no bars. The new facility is said to be much quieter than the old one and is preferred by inmates. Colonel Colleen L. McGuire, the first female commandant of the USDB, said in 2002 that the new facility is "much more efficient in design and layout – much brighter and lighter."

The new prison reflects current prison design of smaller low-rise separate buildings where prisoners can be more easily isolated from the general population. The USDB has continuously been accredited from the American Correctional Association (ACA) since 1988. In 2012 the facility received a 100% rating and the accolades of the rating team.

In 2009, the Barracks along with the Standish Maximum Correctional Facility in Michigan were being considered for relocation of 220 prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Kansas officials including both U.S. Senators have objected to the transfer with Pat Roberts saying the transfer would require that the 2,000 privately-owned acres around the fort would need to be acquired by the use of eminent domain to establish a stand-off zone because the prison is on the perimeter of the fort.