Sullivan Correctional Facility marked for closure: What to know

The Sullivan Correctional Facility will close in 2024, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced Thursday.

The Fallsburg site is one of two maximum-security state correctional facilities DOCCS marked for closure. The other is Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County.

At Sullivan Correctional Facility, 426 people are currently incarcerated, with a capacity of 560, and a current staff of 371. At Great Meadow Correctional Facility, 480 people are currently incarcerated, with a capacity of 1,595, and a current staff of 559.

All people who are currently incarcerated at the institutions will be transferred to other facilities with open beds, DOCCS said in a news release. Staff, the department said, will be offered positions at other facilities and no layoffs are expected.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul's 2024-25 state budget authorized the closure of up to five state correctional facilities as necessary for the correctional system to stay cost-effective and efficient.

"New York State continues to be at the forefront of some of the nation’s most progressive criminal justice reforms by spearheading smart and fair policies that have resulted in a drastic decline in the incarcerated population, which allows for the closures and a safe way to save taxpayer dollars," DOCCS said in a statement.

Both correctional facilities will be closing on Nov. 6, 2024.

How Sullivan, Great Meadow correctional facilities were picked for closure

DOCCS said a review was conducted of each facility in the state, looking at a variety of factors such as diminished populations, infrastructure of the facility, program offerings and if those could be transferred to other institutions, security level, specialized medical and mental health services, locations where there are no Correction Officer reassignment lists, whether there are other facilities in the area to minimize staff impact, as well as other areas of the state where other closures have occurred, reducing community impact.

"The decision to close these facilities was a difficult one for all involved," DOCCS said in a statement. "Across the country, correctional agencies continue to struggle to meet staffing demands, and the Department is no exception, despite new and aggressive recruitment efforts."

The closures of these facilities, the department said, would better utilize staff and ensure the safe operation of programs.

Will more correctional facilities be closing in the state?

DOCCS said they would work with unions to "aggressively" recruit security and civilian staff, but if they still do not see an increase in recruitment, more closures may be considered within the fiscal year.

Additionally, they will be monitoring the effects of the closures of Great Meadow Correctional Facility and Sullivan Correctional Facility on staffing and operations.

Regarding placement of staff, DOCCS said the department would work with bargaining units to provide opportunities for priority placement through voluntary transfers, along with priority employment at other correctional facilities or other state agencies.

Upon closure, the decommissioning process will begin to protect the state assets for potential re-use, and DOCCS plans to work with the Office of General Services and Empire State Development to re-use the correctional facilities.