General
The Riverside Correctional Facility was originally known as Ionia
State Hospital. The old facility hospitalized offenders with severe mental health problems.
Later, the name was changed to Riverside Center and served as a regional psychiatric
hospital. In 1977, the Legislature transferred the operation to the Department of
Corrections when it began operation as a close-custody correctional facility.
Riverside Correctional Facility provides 996 beds for Level II general population prisoners
, a 330-bed Residential Treatment Program (RTP) for Level II prisoners requiring mental
health care without hospitalization needs, eleven close-observation cells, plus an
eight-bed Crisis Stabilization Unit.
Programming
Prisoners provide a work force for facility assignments such as
food service, maintenance, prisoner laundry, store operations, institutional housekeeping,
and grounds care.
Programming for prisoners includes remedial education through high school (General
Education Development) completion and vocational programming. Prisoners can earn college
credits through correspondence courses.
There are two prisoners per cell with the exception of the Crisis
Stabilization Unit.
The Psychological Services Unit
provides support and other related psychological services to this facility and other institutions
within this regional work-site.
Residential Treatment Program (RTP): Mental health services
are available to prisoners in western Michigan. The Crisis Stabilization Program assists
with the observation and evaluation of prisoners demonstrating spontaneous, poor mental
health behavior.
Security
The perimeter of the prison is surrounded by double fences,
electronic detection systems, and special security razor-ribbon wire. A patrol vehicle
and gun towers, both with armed personnel, also help to control the security. |
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