McLellan will run Summit View youth prison

Robert W. McLellan has been named to run Summit View Youth Correctional Center once the trouble-plagued facility reopens.

He begins work Oct. 8. Summit View is expected to receive its first prisoners early next year.

The 96-bed facility in Las Vegas was built to house the most serious of Nevada's youthful offenders. A private contractor was hired to run the place but ran into a number of problems, including a lack of profit because there weren't enough inmates in the prison.

The facility became a source of embarrassment for the state after it was revealed female correctional officers were having sex with teen-age inmates.

The company withdrew from the contract and the state shut Summit View in March 2002. Its inmates were diverted to other programs in the state, transferred to adult prison facilities when old enough or put in youth facilities out of state.

Lawmakers this spring approved the governor's recommendation to reopen the center as a state facility. Officials say staff must be hired and trained before Summit View can reopen.

Gov. Kenny Guinn said reopening the facility will alleviate crowding in the juvenile justice system.

"Strong leadership will be necessary to rebuild the program as a state- operated facility," he said, citing McLellan's experience in both youth corrections and law enforcement.

He has been director of care and custody at Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility in Montana and has also worked in law enforcement. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and is working on a master's degree in public administration.

The job pays $85,153 a year.