By Joyce Kryszak
Albany, NY – The governor announced Thursday he is closing seven state prisons, including the Buffalo Work Release in Erie County.
The closings come at a time when staff reductions and crowded conditions have resulted in an increase in violence at these facilities.
"Inmate-on-inmate assaults, inmate-on-staff assaults, inmate suicides and contraband all increased from 2009 to 2010," said PEF President Ken Brynien. "Inmate-on-inmate assaults were up more than 12 percent and inmate suicides doubled."
The announcement includes the closing of four minimum-security facilities for men, including the Buffalo Work Release in Erie County.
In a statement Thursday, Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard reacted to the Governor's announcement.
"Upon learning that the Buffalo Correctional Facility in Alden is closing as per Governor Cuomo's recent announcement, I immediately contacted State Senator Patrick Gallivan and asked for an opportunity to review and evaluate this facility for Erie County's jail management needs. Senator Gallivan has agreed to act as a facilitator in this manner."
Howard continued: "I have been on record since 2005 that I would be interested in utilizing an already existing jail building should it become available to help ease the overcrowding at the Correctional Facility and Holding Center and to avoid the cost of constructing a new jail at taxpayer's expense. I look forward to pursing this matter further."
The others prisons slated for closure are: Camp Georgetown in Madison County, Summit Shock in Schoharie County and Fulton Work Release in Bronx County. Three medium-security facilities for men also will close: Arthur Kill in Richmond County, Mid-Orange in Orange County and Oneida in Oneida County.