From Beatty Memorial Hospital to Westville Correctional Facility: A Short History

Westville Correctional Facility wasn't built as a prison. The campus originally opened as Beatty Memorial Hospital in February 1951 - which explains why parts of the property feel more like a sprawling institutional site than a facility designed from scratch for corrections.

The site changed hands and purpose over the following decades. Beatty Memorial Hospital was transferred to the Indiana Department of Correction, then renovated and expanded for its new role. Westville Correctional Facility officially opened in July 1979 - the moment the old hospital campus became the prison families know today.

Growth continued after opening. In 1991, Westville added a 220-bed Maximum Control Complex - a significant expansion that turned the site into a more complex operation.

Today, Westville holds more than 3,400 incarcerated individuals. That scale matters for families. Bigger facilities mean more buildings, more moving parts, and more layers to how daily operations run.

Beyond custody and security, Westville emphasizes preparation for life after release. The facility runs multiple programs focused on community service and re-entry - part of its approach to long-term outcomes for people housed there.