Population Information:

See data available regarding Connecticut Department of Correction's supervised population.

General Information:

The Garner Correctional Institution incarcerates both pretrial and sentenced offenders. Through proven programmatic innovation and intervention, the Garner Correctional Institution provides positive alternatives for inmates to assist in their successful reintegration into the community as productive members of society.

Under the administration of then Commissioner Theresa C. Lantz, care and treatment for adult male offenders with significant mental health issues throughout the Department of Correction were consolidated at this level 4 high-security facility. 

Based upon their mental health needs, offenders from throughout the system, both pretrial and sentenced, are assigned here.  The facility's staff utilizes a highly progressive mental health treatment approach. Individualized treatment plans, based upon an offender's level of functionality include extensive programming and therapy, in a group and one on one setting.  The staff at the facility, both custody and mental health, operate through an integrated team approach which insures a continuity of custody, care, treatment and control. 

The program is designed to return as many of these offenders as is possible to the ability to function in either a general population prison setting or ultimately to life in the community. 

The facility is named in honor of Ward A. Garner, who served as warden of the Connecticut State Prison in Wethersfield from 1911-1918.

Present staffing: 369

Listing of the inmate programs available at this facility (PDF, 168 KB).

PREA Auditor's Summary Report (PDF, 547 KB).

PREA Final Report 2017 (PDF 1MB)

PREA Final Report 2021

PREA Final Report 2023

History:

The Garner Correctional Institution opened on November 17, 1992. This two-building facility is located on 118 acres. The main building encompasses 245,000 square feet and houses all inmates and support services and operations. A second building encompasses 15,100 square feet and is dedicated to maintenance operations.

Since 1992, the facility has been adapting to an ever-changing climate of the department by housing inmates in general population, close custody, and the Mental Health Unit as well as a cooperative effort to house Federal High Security inmates.

In 1993 a team of staff members at the Garner Correctional Institution developed and implemented the Close Custody Phase Program for the management of incarcerated gang members.

List of past wardens: