Nevada designates new maximum-security prison outside Las Vegas

The Nevada Department of Corrections has designated a new maximum-security prison, completing the transfer of more than 2,000 offenders Wednesday to a Southern Nevada facility.

High Desert State Prison, the largest of the state’s facilities, will now serve as Nevada’s maximum-security facility, replacing Ely State Prison.

The Ely prison, in White Pine County, will become a medium-security facility.

High Desert in Indian Springs was selected because of its closer proximity to medical services, among other factors, officials said. An increase in gang violence at the Ely prison also spurred the move, officials said.

High Desert is less than 40 miles from Las Vegas and can house more than 4,000 inmates. Maximum-security facilities require offenders to be housed in single-occupancy cells with increased supervision outside of their confinement.

High Desert will also house medium and close-security offenders, officials said.

The prisoner transfer involved more than 11 law enforcement agencies, including Metro Police, the Department of Justice and the United States Marshals Service.

The move comes less than two months after a large fight at Ely State Prison left three offenders dead and nine injured.

Officials said the fight was a factor in the move., and the Ely prison will now serve as a medium security facility.