Tonopah prison camp reopening

A little more than a month after its surprise closure, the state prison camp outside of Tonopah is reopening.

Staff members returned to work on Monday, and minimum security inmates will be gradually brought back starting later this week, said Suzanne Pardee, spokeswoman for the Nevada Department of Corrections.

On Jan. 27, corrections officials arrived unannounced at the camp about 225 miles northwest of Las Vegas and removed all 113 prisoners. The camp's 10-person staff was placed on paid administrative leave and ordered to report for a refresher course in department policies and procedures.

At the time, Corrections Department Director Howard Skolnik said the action stemmed from the Jan. 10 escape of James Paster, who was serving time for battery and possession of a stolen vehicle. Paster, 34, was captured by police in Las Vegas on Jan. 17 .

Pardee said staff members completed their retraining on Friday.