Renovate and Expand Chamchamal Correctional Facility, Chamchamal, Iraq: Sustainment Assessment
Abstract
On 20 June 2009, SIGIR conducted an on-site assessment of the Chamchamal Correctional Facility renovation project in Chamchamal, Iraq. The project was funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). The objective of the $29 million project was to convert the existing fort at Chamchamal into a modern correctional facility with 2,000 medium-security, dormitory-style adult male prison beds and 1,000 high-security cell-style adult prison beds. SIGIR identified several minor construction deficiencies: an incomplete building expansion joint system, a tripping hazard outside the kitchen, and no electrical outlets in the refrigeration room. Aside from these minor construction issues, SIGIR concluded that the construction of the Chamchamal Correctional Facility was adequate. The contractor took the extra security precaution of enclosing in a cage the HVAC unit, lighting, and electrical wiring in the high-security cells to ensure that prisoners would not tamper with the equipment or use it as a weapon. Even though the U.S. Government completed construction and transferred this facility to the Iraqi Correctional Service in March 2009, at the time of SIGIR's site visit in June, the Chamchamal Correctional Facility did not house any prisoners or guards and was not operational. Approximately half of the contractor's 1-year warranty for any construction defects had expired without a single prisoner or guard using any of the sinks, toilets, showers, electrical lights, outlets, etc., to identify any latent defects. In addition, SIGIR identified significant sustainment issues for the KRG, such as the lack of power, staffing, and an operating budget for the facility. In September 2009, riots at the Baghdad Central Prison resulted in the facility being "uninhabitable." With INL's encouragement, the Government of Iraq opened the Chamchamal Correctional Facility and by 12 October 2009, there were 2,637 inmates and 240 Iraqi Correctional Officers there.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 22, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA509265
Entities
People
- Angelina Johnston
- Kevin O'connor
- Yogin Rawal
Organizations
- Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction