Governor Kathy Hochul is facing opposition to her plan to save $77 million on prisons by closing up to five correctional facilities in the next fiscal year. Rural state lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, are opposed to the measure, arguing that closures could increase violence in remaining facilities and drive correctional officers out of the profession. While some state prisons are less than 70% full, the New York correctional system remains far from the “right size,” and closures are expected to help resolve an unsustainable staffing crisis. The state’s prison population has more than halved since the late 1990s, but many prisons remain open and increasingly empty. The state’s low staffing ratio, especially for health services staff, program staff, and support staff, has led to shortages that significantly diminish day-to-day conditions for incarcerated people. Some lawmakers representing rural areas where state prisons have been major employers are particularly anxious about the economic impact of the closures. Governor Hochul’s office argues that closures would help alleviate staffing shortages and right-size the system. However, her proposal has been met with criticism regarding potential violence increases and economic concerns from rural lawmakers. Governor Hochul’s office has not yet identified which facilities would be closed if the proposal passes.
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Rural Legislators Resist Hochul’s Proposal to Shut Down Prisons
