Updated 05/01/2009 06:02 AM
Prisons prepare for controversial closure
It's been one of the many controversial parts of the governor's state budget - the plan to close prisons around the state. Our Steve Ference spoke with the commissioner of New York's Department of Correctional Services who explained the latest and said the cuts are necessary, while others say it leads to unnecessary job loss.ALBANY, N.Y. -- NYS Department of Corrections Commissioner Brian Fischer said, "We're not doing this because we want to; we're doing this because we're facing a budget crisis."
The closure of some state prison facilities is still creating controversy as the Department of Corrections commissioner says it's necessary.
"We have permission to close three camps, and on my authority close seven annexes. And that's part of the 09-10 budget," said Fischer.
The closures include Camp Mount McGregor in Saratoga County, Camp Gabriels in Franklin County, and Camp Pharsalia in Chenango County, as well as seven annexes around the state, which Fischer said will save taxpayer money.
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"The savings is considerable," he said. "We're talking maybe $20 million this year, and far more the next year."
The camps are set to close by July 1, the annexes by October 1, affecting 225 camp and 325 annex workers who will be able to work at other facilities.
Fischer said, "Why I'm phasing this in is the fact I'm losing 80 correction's officers a month through normal attrition. So for, now until, say, October when I close the annexes, we're going to see a lot of attrition."
NYSCOPBA President Donn Rowe said, "We think the commissioner has gone far beyond the proposed budget and far beyond the law regarding the annex closures."
But the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association said the closures simply don't make sense, that the state can't handle fewer facilities, and argues savings should come from streamlining the whole system. NYSCOPBA said the closures may force workers to move to keep their job, even after a two-percent reduction in the workforce last year.
Rowe said, "If there's a need to transfer out of the facility voluntarily or involuntarily may uproot a family and leave communities. In some cases it may force a layoff."
All of this comes as officials watch the crime rate closely given the state of the economy, and they prepare for the impact of the rollback of the Rockefeller Drug Laws.
Fischer said, "Our projections are the crime rate won't go up more than it has."
That, with more treatment for drug convicts could create more room in fewer facilities according to the commissioner, as NYSCOPBA argues the prisons are operating above capacity already and vows to fight the closures with legal action.