Politics and Prison Development in a Rural Area

Abstract

In 1985, Eastern Oregon State Hospital, an institution for the mentally ill, was converted into Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (EOCI), a medium-security prison for men. EOCI was the first Oregon correctional institution outside the Salem area. This article examines the historical, political, and economic reasons the institution was located in Pendleton. We argue that the most important variable in determining where a prison will be located is not geography, safety, or demography, but whether the prison fits the economic growth plan of the area. If so, local elite are more likely to support the institution, and the institution is therefore more likely to be built. Policy implications for siting correctional institutions are discussed.