,U.S. Forces Iraq

CAMP CROPPER, IRAQ — The last major U.S. run detention facility in Iraq was officially transferred to the Government of Iraq (GOI) on Thursday, U.S. Forces in Iraq (USF-I) announced.

The Cropper Theater Internment Facility (TIF) was transferred to the GOI after Major Gen. Jerry Cannon, USF-I deputy commanding general for detainee operations and provost marshal general, Sameer Al-Haddad, receivership secretariat of Iraq, and Dara Nur al-Deen, the minister of justice, signed the transfer documents during the ceremony.

The facility, which currently houses approximately 1,500 detainees being held on GOI arrest warrants, detention orders or convictions, was used by U.S. forces for the care and custody of detainees since April 2003. It has the capacity to hold up to 4,000 prisoners.

The facility has been upgraded with six detainee compounds, a family visitation center and supply buildings, as well as a tactical operations center, dining facility and logistics support area for the corrections officers, which total to $48 million in infrastructure investments. In addition, contracts totaling $50.2 million, covering services such as power, water and waste management, are already in place to support detention operations through December.

“The transfer of the Cropper Theater Internment facility is a major milestone along the democratic journey of self-determination and reliance for the Government of Iraq,” Cannon said. “Success is not only measured in the security gains, but in the enhanced capability and capacity of the ministries. Our continued partnership with the Ministry of Justice has enabled the transfer of detainees in a safe and orderly manner to the Iraqi correctional service in accordance with the security agreement.”

“We would like to thank our American friends for delivering Cropper prison to the Ministry of Justice,” said al Deen. “After strengthening the security and stability of our country, the Iraqi government will be taking over the responsibility and administration of areas related to national security, including the Iraqi Corrections Service, detention facilities and prisons.”

The TIF, which counts with approximately 700 Iraqi corrections officers and about 100 support staff, will be renamed Sijn Al-Matar, or Airport Prison. It is the third and final major detention facility transferred to Iraqi control or closed in the last year. The Camp Bucca TIF closed in September 2009 and the detainees were transferred to the Taji Theater Internment Facility and Reconciliation Center and Cropper TIF. On March 30, The Taji TIFRC was transferred to the GOI.

“This is the first day of a new era, one in which all elements of the Iraqi criminal justice system are able to assert their role in providing for the continued safety and security of the Iraqi people,” Cannon said.