THE 1979 STATE LEGISLATURE WILL DECIDE ON THE NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF PRISONS' PROPOSAL TO BUILD A THIRD MEDIUM-SECURITY PRISON COSTING BETWEEN $20 AND $36 MILLION. THIS PROPOSAL FOLLOWS THE 1977 STATE LEGISLATURE'S APPROVAL OF THE LARGEST PRISON CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM IN THE STATE'S HISTORY. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE NEW PRISON ARE SUMMARIZED, AND IT IS NOTED THAT DECISIONS ABOUT NEW PRISON CONSTRUCTION CAN BE MADE EITHER IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC PRESSURE OR ON THE BASIS OF PROFESSIONAL EVALUATIONS OF PRISONS AND ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. IF THE LEGISLATURE DECIDES TO BUILD THE NEW PRISON, IT MUST ALSO DECIDE WHERE TO LOCATE IT. THERE EXISTS A CONFLICT BETWEEN STANDARDS CALLING FOR THE LOCATION OF PRISONS NEAR POPULATION CENTERS, AND PRESSURES TO BUILD THE PRISON IN A RURAL COUNTY THAT NEEDS THE JOBS THE PRISON WOULD PROVIDE. THE LEGISLATURE WILL ALSO DECIDE ON PROPOSALS DEVELOPED BY A COMMITTEE THAT STUDIED PROBLEMS AND INMATE PROGRAMS AT THE MAXIMUM-SECURITY PRISON IN CARSON CITY, WHERE AN INMATE RIOT TOOK PLACE IN 1976. THE COMMITTEE'S PROPOSED REFORMS INCLUDE REPLACEMENT OF THE BOARD OF PRISON COMMISSIONERS WITH AN INDEPENDENT LAY BOARD OF PRISON TRUSTEES, MINIMUM TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, PRIVATE INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION IN INMATE WORK PROGRAMS, CITIZEN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS TO ENHANCE INMATE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS, A PROGRAM OF PRERELEASE PREPARATION, AND REMOVAL OF THE PRISON OMBUDSMAN FROM THE PRISON ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE. OTHER PROPOSALS BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE HAVE TO DO WITH RATIONALIZING AND IMPROVING THE STATE'S HANDLING OF OFFENDERS JUDGED MENTALLY ILL OR OTHERWISE INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, AS WELL AS MENTALLY INCOMPETENT PERSONS CONVICTED OF CRIMES. LEGISLATORS ARE URGED TO EXAMINE PRISON-RELATED ISSUES AND ALTERNATIVES WITH AN OPEN MIND. (LKM)