Governor Kelly Armstrong and Lieutenant Governor Michelle Strinden participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Heart River Correctional Center (HRCC) in Mandan, marking a historic milestone in North Dakota’s prison system. The state’s first facility designed specifically for women will focus on rehabilitation, safety, and family reintegration.
The 191,500-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in fall 2027, will provide 304 beds—178 more than the current Dakota Women’s Correctional Rehabilitation Center in New England, which has served as the state’s women’s prison since 2003. Armstrong emphasized the significance of the project, noting, “This day is historic for North Dakota because for the first time in our state’s 135-year history, we’re breaking ground on a correctional facility designed specifically for women.”
The new facility will not only increase capacity but also provide enhanced space for volunteer services, rehabilitation programs, vocational training, and career development. Inmates will be offered greater opportunities to rebuild their lives, with a strong focus on family connections to improve outcomes for children of incarcerated parents.
Colby Braun, Director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR), highlighted the facility’s focus on preparing inmates for reentry into society, stating, “From the very first day someone enters this facility, the focus will be on reentry – on preparing them for the day they will return to their families and communities.”
HRCC Warden Connie Hackman Rivinius explained that the facility aims to create a supportive, trauma-informed environment for women, fostering personal growth through programming, accountability, and relationship-building.
The $131.2 million project, funded by the 2023 state legislature, is expected to receive an additional $35.6 million as part of Armstrong’s proposed 2025-27 budget. The DOCR collaborated with JLG Architects, JB Marie, and DLR Group on the design of the facility.
