Simpson denounces Gov.'s plan to close more prisons

ALBANY | Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Horicon) joined Assemblyman Chris Tague (R,C-Schoharie) and NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers on the Million Dollar Staircase in Albany Jan. 31 in response to Gov. Hochul's proposal to carry out the 'expedited' closure of up to five New York prisons in the upcoming fiscal year. Normally, the state is required to provide a year's notice before closing down a correctional facility, a practice that has been tradition to help affected employees transfer to other locations and to responsibly transfer inmates. Gov. Hochul wants to unilaterally close prisons with only 90 days' notice. Simpson questions Hochul's judgment in wanting to close down prisons shortly following her proposal to convert old prison sites into affordable housing inventory. "The governor must reconsider this proposal in the interest of the well-being of our correction officers and inmates. Over 25 correctional facilities have been closed since 2011 and as the inmate population may be declining, inmate-on-staff assaults have more than doubled. It is wrong to view the inmate population merely as a number. Closing an additional five prisons in the coming year will only exacerbate the violence our correction officers are facing. "The combination of this news and the repercussions of the HALT Act have played a damning role in the morale of our current correction officers. The HALT Act has put our correction officers at greater risk by limiting their ability to encourage reward systems. Special housing is not the same as solitary confinement and it reduces the risk of disturbances. Eliminating this jeopardizes the safety of correction officers. Rather than condone violence, we should be working with our brave correction officers, not against them," said Simpson.

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Simpson denounces Gov.'s plan to close more prisons

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