BREAKING: Cuomo wants to eliminate 3,500 prison beds
by Brian Mann on February 1st, 2011
According to an advance copy of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s new budget plan viewed by NCPR, New York state hopes to eliminate as many as 3,500 prison beds from the correctional system.
In theory, that means eliminating about 10% of the total prison capacity in the state, which (these are very rough calculations) would add up closing to 5-7 correctional facilities.
IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION: THE CUTS WOULD ACCOUNT FOR 10% OF THE STATE’S MINIMUM AND MEDIUM SECURITY FACILITIES. THIS PLAN WOULD APPARENTLY NOT AFFECT MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES.
The Cuomo administration hopes to achieve those cuts quickly, in time for the 2011-2012 budget year, and is pushign to eliminate the 12-month waiting period on prison cuts now in place.
This from the state’s budget book:
The closures will be undertaken after a task forcecreated by Executive Order makes recommendations regarding specific facilities to beclosed; and economic development assistance will be provided to communities where aclosure occurs.The Budget also proposes to eliminate the 12-month statutory notification before closing a facility to allow closures as soon as practicable after thetask force has made its recommendations.
According to Gov. Cuomo’s team, the change would save $72 million dollars next year.
Tags: Cuomo, economy, nys budget, politics, prisons
Brian, relax. Just wait for the plan. Everybody has got to calm down.
Brian – can you provide a link to the budget book for the new budget? Thanks!
Paul – This is the plan.
–Brian, NCPR
The governor’s budget is a proposal. Not many items will get approved exactly as written today, unless the legislature decides not to report to work!
Good. Prisoners don’t need beds. They can sleep on the floor.
Close! more prisons! open more! Schools!!! for the Children! God Bless Cuomo he’s showing guts! and not fear! for those union big wigs! and that’s what is really needed! right now…great Job!
Mary, when last did the legislatures last do any work other than try to get reelected by doing what the special interest groups want?
This is the key to what Cuomo is asking. Work for the general population, not the special interest groups.
This is not too bad from a North Country Prison perspective. If the North Country lost two facilities it would be a bad thing in these localities; but it would start the slow process of withdrawing from our addiction to prisons.