By Robert Harding
The Citizen, Auburn, N.Y.
AUBURN, N.Y. — After receiving authorization to expedite the closure of up to five correctional facilities, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision will close two maximum-security prisons later this year.
DOCCS announced Thursday that Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County and Sullivan Correctional Facility in Sullivan County will close Nov. 6 . Great Meadow has 559 employees and houses 480 incarcerated individuals, while Sullivan has 371 employees and 426 incarcerated individuals.
In a statement, DOCCS detailed the process for identifying which prisons would close this year. The department reviewed operations at its 44 correctional facilities, including the size of the incarcerated population, infrastructure, programming and security level. Other factors, such as prior closures in a region, were considered.
DOCCS determined that it could safely close Great Meadow and Sullivan correctional facilities. Both prisons are operating with incarcerated populations well below capacity.
“The decision to close these facilities was a difficult one for all involved,” the department said in its statement. “Acorss the country, correctional agencies continue to struggle to meet staffing demands, and the department is no exception, despite new and aggressive recruitment efforts.
“The closure of the two facilities will help ensure the safe and efficient operation of the system by utilizing staff more effectively, and operating programs in a safe manner.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024-25 budget proposal included up to five prison closures. The state budget, which was finalized in April, contains language allowing the expedited prison closures.
DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III, who testified at a budget hearing in January, told lawmakers the department sought to close more prisons due to a “staffing crisis.” At the time of his remarks, the department had 3,800 vacant positions, including 1,900 unfilled corrections officer posts.
The declining incarcerated population is also a factor. The number of incarcerated individuals has decreased from a high of 72,773 in 1999 to, as of Thursday, 33,419.
RELATED: The 2024-25 New York state budget agreement allowed Gov. Kathy Hochul to expedite the closure of up to five prisons. On July 18, the DOCCS announced two prisons would close.
DOCCS could’ve closed more prisons, but opted for two to “minimize the effect on staff, and at the same time attempt to close the gap on staffing shortages in our correctional facilities.” Additional closures are possible if there isn’t an increase in recruitment.
No layoffs are expected, according to DOCCS. Employees at Great Meadow and Sullivan will be offered jobs at other correctional facilities. Incarcerated individuals will be transferred to other prisons where there are vacant beds.
Chris Summers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, criticized DOCCS’ decision to close two more prisons as violence surges and staffing levels continue to decline.
“Redistributing staff through prison closures will accomplish the same thing it has always accomplished: A short-term staffing boost to a handful of facilities with little to no long-term relief,” Summers said. He urged the state to “take bold and creative action” to address the staffing woes.
After the prisons close, DOCCS plans to work with Empire State Development and the state Office of General Services to find reuses of the facilities.
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