Prison notes: Suicides, a natural death, a CO arrest, and DOCs keeps its leader
Last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reappointed Brian Fischer to head New York’s Department of Correctional Services. Fischer has held that post since 2007.
Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Fischer was one of nine Supervising Superintendents with responsibility for the management of six correctional facilities in addition to being the Superintendent of Sing Sing Correctional Facility from 2000-2007.
He served as the Superintendent of the Queensboro Correctional Facility for nine years after serving as the Director of Support Operations from 1986-1991. Mr. Fischer began his career in the New York State Department of Correctional Services as a Deputy Superintendent in 1975.
North Country lawmakers have expressed frustration with Fischer in the past for what they view as his focus on closing prisons in this region when considering cost-cutting measures.
Meanwhile, the New York Times is arguing in a lead editorial that one of Fischer’s most important tasks going forward will be sorting out mental health programs behind bars, due to rising suicide rates.
State records show that there were 20 suicides in 2010, double the number in 2009 and the highest since 1978, the first year for which records were released.
The figures inched higher in the 1980s, then even higher in the ’90s. The decade that just ended was the worst on record, with more than 125 inmates taking their own lives.
On another front, the Plattsburgh Press-Republican is reporting that 44-year-old inmate Leonard Strickland, who died last year after a confrontation with corrections oficers, “succumbed to natural causes.”
After months of waiting for final medical reports, State Police have closed the case on his death.
“It was ruled a natural death,” State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Robert LaFountain said.
And late last week a corrections officer from West Chazy was suspended after being charged with trying to lure young girls into his automobile.
DOCs spokeswoman Linda Foglia told the Glens Falls Post Star that the state will try to fire 25-year-old Joshua Davison.
“The department has a zero-tolerance policy for this type of behavior,” Foglia said.
Davison was wearing his DOCS uniform and was driving between his West Chazy home and the prison where he works, Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Fort Ann, when the contact with the girls occurred, Whitehall Police said.
Whitehall Police Chief Matt Dickinson said officers have learned that Davison was charged in July with second-degree harassment for a similar type of act in Crown Point.
Tags: criminal justice
