North Dakota State Penitentiary (NDSP)

Is one of the four North Dakota prisons under the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR).  The facility was established in Bismarck in 1885 and houses maximum custody men over the age of 18. The Department of Corrections and rehabilitation’s mission is to transform lives, influence change and strengthen communities.  NDSP has 9 different housing units inside its walls. One of those housing units is designated for adults aged 18-25 and is referred to as Unity Village, a Restoring Promise initiative. The other housing units are referred to as General Population and Preferred Housing.  Inside the walls of NDSP is a podcast that is operated by two residents, a Service Dogs of America program (ICAP), The Last Mile program which is an in-prison computer coding education and post-incarceration mentorship to justice involved people and these are just a few of the programs offered.

Rough Rider Industries (RRI)

Established in 1975 as a division of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (NDDOCR). RRI employes incarcerated individuals to produce quality goods and services in a self-sustaining manner while preparing these individuals to successfully reintegrate into society.

Although RRI is a state agency, they are entirely self-funded. RRI use no tax-payer dollars in the support of North Dakota’s correctional programs. All salaries, equipment, capital improvements, and operating expenses are paid from revenues generated from the sale of our products and services. RRI surpluses even help defray the cost of programs within the NDDOCR.

RRI operates within three different NDDOCR facilities: North Dakota State Penitentiary (NDSP) located in Bismarck, James River Correctional Center (JRCC) located in Jamestown, and Missouri River Correctional Center (MRCC) located in Bismarck. RRI’s NDSP facility specializes in manufacturing furniture, seating, signs, license plates, dumpsters, park equipment, CAD design services, and other custom fabrication. RRI’s JRCC facility specializes in manufacturing garments/clothing, upholstery, seating, mattresses, bedding, pillows, plastic trash bags, and commissary services. RRI’s MRCC facility specializes in welding and custom fabrication for agriculture-related products