NY State Proceeds With the Closing of Four Prisons

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York is proceeding with closing of four prisons this summer while lawmakers have imposed a two-year moratorium on further closings after that.

Following notifications last summer, July closings are scheduled at minimum-security Monterey Shock facility in Schuyler County and medium-security Butler in Wayne County, Chateaugay in Franklin County and Mount McGregor in Saratoga County.

According to corrections officials, drawdowns have recently left Monterey with no inmates and 47 staff, Butler with 33 inmates and 48 staff, Chateaugay with 15 inmates and 49 staff, and McGregor with 34 inmates and 91 staff.

New York's prison population has dropped from 71,600 in 1999 to 54,100 currently at 58 institutions, with a drop in crime rates and reduced sentences for drug offenses.

The new state budget prohibits further closings before July 2016.