Northern NH Correctional Facility History

In 1994, New Hampshire's adult inmate population surpassed 2,000. The need for another institution was seen as a solution to alleviate this problem. In 1996, the NHDOC explored using existing but vacant buildings in Antrim, Hooksett, and Portsmouth to house a new prison. Negative public sentiment and in some cases the extensive renovation work that would be needed proved to be a challenge. The NHDOC later made a proposal to the City of Franklin for the construction of a new prison but a local referendum turned it down.

A State Senator invited the Department to build a prison in the northern region of the state. The NHDOC initially looked at the town of Lancaster but then abandoned that and set its eyes on Berlin. Coincidentally that same year, a Texas-based private prison company had prepared some preliminary research on building a facility in Berlin but that did not occur. However, this research proved helpful to the state in determining an acceptable building site.

The Legislature agreed to float a $30 million bond to construct the new prison. The initial prison would house 500 medium security male inmates with the possibility of expansion to 1,000 at a future date. The NHDOC contracted with a builder, which specialized in the construction of prisons. Groundbreaking began in 1998 on the new building. It was completed in March 2000 when it was opened.

With the closing of the Lakes Region Facility in 2009 one of the two gymnasiums at the Berlin prison was converted into a 112-bed minimum security unit. In 2011 the population had decreased to the point that this dormitory could close.