ALBANY — In a significant move, New York State has announced the closure of a prison located near the Canadian border, as well as the downsizing of another facility in western New York, due to persistent staffing shortages affecting the correctional system. The Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Franklin County is set to close on March 11, according to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
The decision comes as the state grapples with a shortage of correction officers, exacerbated by the firing of thousands of staff members earlier this year following a strike that raised concerns over working conditions. “The decision to close any facility is difficult for all involved,” the agency stated, emphasizing the nationwide struggle among correctional agencies to meet staffing demands.
Staff at Bare Hill, which currently houses 709 inmates, will have the opportunity to transfer to nearby facilities, including Altona Correctional Facility in Clinton County and Adirondack Correctional Facility in Essex County. The agency has assured that there are sufficient openings to prevent layoffs for the displaced employees.
Additionally, the Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County will undergo campus consolidation, although this will not impact staffing or programming at that location. These changes are part of efforts to alleviate pressure on the state’s correctional system as it continues to face challenges following the strike over unsafe working conditions.
Over the past decade, New York has closed 12 state prisons, with most closures occurring in the last five years due to a significant decline in the prison population. The current inmate count stands at approximately 33,000, a substantial decrease from around 51,000 a decade ago.
The closure of Bare Hill follows the state Legislature granting Governor Kathy Hochul permission to close up to three prisons this year as a cost-saving measure. As the state has invested heavily in staffing prisons with members of the National Guard to fill vacancies, correction officers have reiterated their concerns regarding the impact of closures on safety and working conditions.
For further updates on local news, visit hiphopraisedmetheblog.com.
