PRESS RELEASE
January 17, 2008

Majority Says State Should Keep Two Area Prisons Open

State Sites Can Help Counties & Prevent Shift in Costs

 Members of the majority of the Rensselaer County Legislature announced they oppose the closing of two state prisons, saying the two medium-security prisons slated for closure should be used to reduce overcrowding in county prisons.

The proposal by Governor Spitzer comes at a time when Rensselaer County is facing a state order to expand the county jail. At a cost of $50 million, the expansion will be one of the most expensive capital projects in county history.

Republican legislators said they are confused as to why the state can cite a declining prison population as the reason for the closure of the Hudson and Mt. McGregor facilities, when the county is being ordered to expand the county jail.

“It does not make sense that Rensselaer County would be required to build a very expensive addition to our jail when the state is closing prisons. We would like an explanation,” said Chairman of the Legislature Neil J. Kelleher.

The closure of the two prisons is being proposed at a time when counties are regularly dealing with over-crowding caused in part by the periodic failure of the state to remove state-ready inmates. State-ready inmates are prisoners who have been convicted of a felony and by law, are supposed to be housed in state prisons. The problem is compounded because the state reimburses counties for state-ready inmates at a rate that is below the cost for housing such inmates.

“Before the state closes any prisons, they should be removing any state-ready inmates from county jails across the state. It is unfair to counties,” said Legislator Martin Reid.

Republican legislators said they are also concerned that if the two medium-security prisons are closed it will eventually lead to further over-crowding in county jails when there are the inevitable increases in the state prison population.

“Any decline in the state prison population is bound to be temporary, and that will only mean further costs and trouble for counties across New York State. These two prisons should remain open because the population will increase at some point,” said Vice Chairman of the Legislature Thomas Walsh Sr., co-chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee.

“It almost seems like counties are being set up by the closure of these two prisons. These closings could lead to real over-crowding issues in the next few years,” said Legislator Mike Stammel, co-chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee.

The majority will introduce a resolution for consideration at the February 12 legislative meeting opposing the closure of the Hudson and Mt. McGregor prisons. If approved as expected, the resolution would be sent to the governor and representatives of Rensselaer County in the State Legislature.

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