Today, Assemblywoman Marjorie Byrnes (R,C-Caledonia) hosted a press conference to seek answers as to why the governor and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) decided to target Livingston Correctional Facility regarding the recent decision to close the facility effective Sept. 1.

Byrnes was joined by State Senator Chris Jacobs (R,C,IP), State Senator Thomas O’Mara (R,C,IP), Assemblyman Brian Manktelow (R,C,I,Ref-Lyons), Board of Supervisors Chairman David LeFeber, Livingston County Ways & Means Committee Chairman Dan Pangrazio, CSEA Region 6 President Kathy Button, Mt. Morris Mayor Frank Provo and Annie Chwiecko representing Senator Patrick Gallivan (R,C,I-Elma). Local officials plan to FOIL documents to understand why this facility was specifically targeted by the Cuomo administration.

“I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brave correctional officers and staff. We need to give them the support they need to keep our community safe,” said Senator Pam Helming (R,C,IP) “Thank you to Assemblywoman Byrnes for bringing our community together to support our brave correctional officers, staff and their families.”

The 2019-20 Executive Budget included measures that would allow Gov. Cuomo to close three prisons with only 90 days’ notice. On Friday, May 22, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) announced the closures of Lincoln Correctional Facility, a minimum security prison located in New York City, and Livingston Correctional Facility in Sonyea. The Cuomo administration alleges the Livingston Correctional was chosen due to its poor facility conditions.

“During my recent visit to Livingston Correctional, I was able to see firsthand the condition of the facility. The electrical system was recently upgraded to support charging stations for inmate’s laptops. An $8.4 million contract to upgrade the water infrastructure in both Groveland Correctional and Livingston Correctional is currently being completed. A $5.5 million project to replace the roof will continue past the closing date. The facility is one of the least expensive facilities to operate in terms of staffing and energy consumption, and it is one of the few facilities in the state that is handicapped accessible.”

Livingston Correctional Facility houses 806 inmates out of their 874 bed capacity and is forced to use a dangerous method known as double-bunking. Double-bunking forces inmates into bunk beds in an area designed for the use of one inmate. The practice has created a dangerous environment for both inmates and correctional officers. Since the usage of double-bunking has become more common, inmate violence rates have increased.

“I am proud to stand with our amazing correctional officers and professional prison employees of NYSCOPBA and CSEA to fight against Gov. Cuomo’s reckless closing of prisons. Our state prisons are overcrowded and unsafe for correctional workers which also make them unsafe for the inmates, particularly those who are double-bunked,” said Sen. O’Mara.

“It’s unclear as to why Gov. Cuomo would close a facility that is almost at full capacity. Over 800 inmates will be transferred across the state into facilities forcing double bunking and imposing additional safety risks for correctional officers throughout the state. Forcing two inmates into a space meant for one often leads to violence within cells. If New York was to house inmates safely and eliminate double-bunking, no prison would have to close. While Gov. Cuomo believes that closing prisons is necessary, it’s at the expense of the safety of both correctional officers and inmates.”