List released on New York State Prison closings

By 7 News Staff

Jul. 18, 2024 

ALBANY, New York (WWNY) -The north country’s three prisons were spared from being shut down by the state.

The list released to the union representing state corrections officers by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision doesn’t include Cape Vincent, Gouverneur, or Riverview correctional facilities.

It names a downstate prison and another in the Capitol District.

In a social media post, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association said they were told the closings will be at Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock, N.Y., in Washington County and Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg, N.Y., in Sullivan County.

The prisons will close within the next 90 days.

The union says it stands in firm opposition to any prison closures, viewing them as a temporary fix that fails to address the root causes of the staffing crisis across the state.

“This is a short-term answer. People are going to resign. People are going to quit. Anyone who can retire is not going to travel an hour each way to work or more. They’re just going to retire and walk away,” said John Roberts, north region vice president of NYSCOPBA.

The state wants to close prisons because of a declining inmate population. This year’s state budget allows Gov. Kathy Hochul to close up to five prisons, so more closures could be coming.