Dry Hill not on a 'hit list'
The state Department of Correctional Services has no "hit list" for future prison closings that might cast a shadow over the state's Watertown facility at Dry Hill, spokespersons for the agency said last week.
Ogdensburg Correctional Facility, slated for closure under Gov. David A. Paterson's proposed budget, is operating at 72 percent of capacity. That's the lowest percentage among nine prisons in the north country, according to data provided by the Department of Correctional Services.
Next in line among least-used facilities are Watertown Correctional Facility at Dry Hill and Chateaugay in Franklin County, each functioning at 85 percent capacity. Both, like Ogdensburg, are medium-security facilities. Watertown and Ogdensburg are the oldest of the nine, having opened in 1982.
Erik Kriss, the agency's director of public information, said Thursday that there is no hit list for future closings.
"We re-evaluate the entire state prison system each year based upon projections and make any determinations about potential closures based upon the data," he said.
His associate, Linda M. Foglia, when asked specifically about Watertown's future, said the agency is not looking beyond the current budget considerations and does not deal with hypothetical situations.
A tally provided by the Department of Correctional Services indicated that as of Wednesday, Watertown, with a potential to hold 670 prisoners, was housing 557. Chateaugay had 206 of its 240 beds occupied.
The most-used facility is 21-year-old Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Franklin County, running at 95 percent of its 1,722-inmate capacity. Also filling more than 90 percent of their beds are Upstate and Franklin correctional facilities in Franklin County, Riverview in Ogdensburg, and Gouverneur and Cape Vincent.
All are medium-security prisons except Upstate, which is a maximum-security facility.
Mr. Kriss said that if the proposed closure becomes a reality at Ogdensburg, where 443 inmates were counted Wednesday, all security personnel will be offered transfers.
"There were no layoffs of security staff as a result of last year's closures," he said. "We are hopeful that will be the case with these."
The employee roll at Ogdensburg, including security and civilian workers, totals 287. Watertown employs 332 and Chateaugay has 109.
Mr. Kriss was less specific about civilian staff, again making reference to the closures in 2009 of three minimum-security "camps," Mount McGregor in Saratoga County, Gabriels in Franklin County and Pharsalia in Chenango County.
"We had a small number of layoffs of civilian staff," he said, "all because the affected employees were unwilling to move."
If Ogdensburg and three other facilities on the chopping block — minimum-security prisons in Clinton and Wayne counties and a "shock" facility in Essex County — are shut down, the Department of Correctional Services will "not allow these facilities to become eyesores," Mr. Kriss said.
The agency is required by law to issue a report on reuse at least six months before closure occurs, he said. Potential government uses must be explored fully before the properties can be offered for sale to private entities, he said.
"Commissioner (Brian) Fischer will consult with and seek input from other appropriate state agencies, as well as local officials and community leaders, on potential reuses for any facility scheduled for closure," Mr. Kriss said.
The decision to close correctional facilities comes while New York experiences a steady decline in its prisoner population. The population peaked at 71,538 on Dec. 12, 1999, while the latest count, reported Thursday, shows 58,119 inmates, he said. There were 22,463 security officers 10 years ago, while now there are 20,918, Mr. Kriss said.
