Below state legislation, there may be often a one-year interval between the announcement of a jail closure and the ability ceasing operations. However with the facility granted to Cuomo within the state finances, he can shut prisons inside a 90-day interval so long as he notifies state legislative leaders.
The Cuomo administration has stated that the jail closures are a product of the declining incarcerated inhabitants. As of Monday, there have been 34,842 incarcerated people in 52 state prisons, down from 57,229 when Cuomo took workplace practically 10 years in the past. DOCCS stated the jail inhabitants is at its lowest level in additional than 30 years.
However there may be criticism of the choice to shut state prisons and the timing of the announcement. The New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Affiliation, a union representing state corrections officers, stated the closures will have an effect on greater than 900 officers on the three amenities.
Michael Powers, NYSCOPBA’s president, blasted the choice, calling it “extremely thoughtless” as a result of it was introduced 4 days earlier than Christmas.
“Can Governor Cuomo look our members within the face and say that, regardless of jail violence at near-record ranges, closing prisons is what’s greatest and can produce a safer atmosphere?” Powers stated. He’s referring to information that reveals there have been 939 assaults on corrections workers within the first 11 months of the yr. There have been one other 1,111 assaults on inmates, in accordance with DOCCS. Assaults on workers may high 1,000 for the second yr in a row.
