Bismarck, Burleigh County (trfnews.i234.me) The North Dakota State Penitentiary stopped in-person visitation on Saturday.
What we know
The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said the pause is “until further notice.”
The state penitentiary is North Dakota’s main prison facility in Bismarck.
Officials linked the suspension to an inmate-on-inmate assault at the prison.
The agency said the assault is under investigation.
It did not release more details about the incident.
It also did not give a date for visits to resume.
Kayli Richards, a department spokesperson, confirmed the investigation in a public statement.
What this means for families
Families with planned weekend visits may need to reschedule.
Call ahead before making a trip to the prison.
The department lists visiting rules and hours on its website.
That page also explains video visitation options.
Remote visits need internet and a camera-enabled device.
Some remote visits may include a fee, depending on the option.
Visit the official guidance here: DOCR Visitation.
Staffing pressures
The department has warned for years about staffing gaps.
In a 2023 legislative handout, officials reported more than 70 vacant positions across four facilities.
The same handout listed nearly 30 vacant officer jobs at the state penitentiary.
It also noted eight staff members on National Guard duty at that time.
Those figures may be different today.
The handout is here: Legislative staffing handout (PDF).
Where to find updates
The department said it announced the change on social media.
Updates may appear on the agency’s Facebook page.
Find it here: North Dakota DOCR on Facebook.
The agency website is here: docr.nd.gov.
USA.gov also lists state corrections contacts here: State departments of corrections.
TRF News has requested more details from the department.
We were told an interview may be available on Monday.
TRF News will update this story when new information is released.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.