This morning, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) announced the following facilities to close within the next 90 days: Great Meadow Correctional Facility and Sullivan Correctional Facility. Northern New York facilities have averted any action in this round of closures and are collectively relieved. Assemblymember Scott Gray (R-Watertown) stands firm with the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) and will remain vigilant in advocating against the closure of our prisons.

DOCCS has been authorized by legislation to close up to five facilities, so additional closures could occur. Justification for closures is largely attributed to a staffing shortage. Gray has advocated that Northern New York contributes to increased staffing and that more staff come from this area than are employed locally. This is supported by the transfer waitlist to come back into the area.

Additionally, the prisons in Northern New York have excellent programming and excellent medical care as well as dedicated correction staff who show up every day to do their jobs. “I remain steadfast in my belief there is no justification for closing facilities in Northern New York without causing more harm to the existing staffing crisis,” said Gray.

“While I’m grateful the prison closures announced today will not be in our district, we continue to remain diligent in our support of NYSCOPBA and our local facilities. Closures will affect our communities through both direct employment and indirect employment, as well as water and sewer infrastructure built around serving these facilities, and closures place an undue burden on our correction officers, their families and the local economies that depend on these facilities,” said Gray. “The defense of our facilities will continue.”

“The decision to close only two facilities was purposefully made to minimize the effect on staff, and at the same time attempt to close the gap on staffing shortages in our correctional facilities,” said DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello.