North Dakota’s corrections system is buckling under pressure — prisons around Bismarck are operating beyond capacity, forcing the state to scramble for relief. The Legislature OK’d $37 million+ to fund “mini-prisons,” jails contracts, and overflow housing in 2025–27.
For years, ND’s inmate population has exceeded design limits. Between July 2023 and May 2025, the system averaged 193 male inmates over capacity and 31 females over capacity.
North Dakota Monitor
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The State Penitentiary in Bismarck, with an operational capacity of 779 male inmates, already housed 803 as of June 2025 — exceeding its limit.
Missouri River Correctional Center (just south of Bismarck) also overstepped its minimum security bed count.
The state is predicting further increases. Over the 2025–27 biennium, male inmates are projected to jump from ~1,907 to ~2,040 (a 7 % rise).
Meanwhile, North Dakota’s Department of Corrections began prioritizing which inmates to admit, essentially using a waitlist system to cope with bed shortages.
Budget pressures add to the strain. Governor Kelly Armstrong proposed a modest corrections increase, even as demands for more capacity grow.
The prisons in and around Bismarck are feeling the squeeze, and solutions are urgently needed.
The city’s prisons already operate over limits, which raises safety, staffing, and facility maintenance challenges.
Burleigh Morton Detention Center (in Bismarck area) has been eyed as a partner: the state plans to contract with it for up to 120 overflow beds.
“Man camps” are being procured to expand housing near Mission River Correctional Center — potentially 72–96 beds — but that still may not be enough.
Any delays or failures in these fixes will likely translate into deferred admissions, transfers to distant jails, or even court delays for sentencing in Burleigh County and surrounding jurisdictions.
What’s Being Tried (and What’s at Stake):
Budget infusion & construction: The Legislature earmarked over $37 million for temporary housing, contracts, and new facilities.
Mini-prison builds: Four “mini prisons” are in the works to add ~300 beds statewide in the next year.
Man camps at Missouri River CC: Immediate overflow housing next to Bismarck’s facilities (72–96 beds planned).
Jail contracts: Agreements for 60–72 beds at Grand Forks Jail and up to 120 beds at Burleigh Morton Detention Center.
New facility planning: Funds have been set aside for the Heart River women’s prison (304 beds, opening ~2027) and planning of a new medium-security prison near the State Penitentiary.
Admission prioritization: The state is enforcing rules to admit high-seriousness cases first when beds are tight. Lower-level offenders may wait longer in county jails.
If these measures lag or fail, Bismarck-area courts, jails, and corrections staff may face further overload, longer case backlogs, and possibly compromised safety.
North Dakota is clearly in the midst of a prison capacity emergency, and Bismarck sits at its center. The state is deploying a mix of fixes — new housing, contracts, waitlists, and facility upgrades — but the timeline is tight and the risk of overflow remains high. For local residents, this means keeping a close eye on jail and court delays, potential safety concerns, and whether Bismarck’s facilities can hold up under sustained pressure.
