2009-2010 Executive Budget - Briefing Book Public Safety

[Excerpted
Highlights]

The Executive Budget also seeks to restructure the criminal justice
system to achieve savings without compromising the public's safety by
eliminating excess prison capacity, advancing sentencing reform proposals, fostering improved partnerships with local jails, and
eliminating lower-performing programs

Close Four Prison Camps and Various Annexes To eliminate excess capacity in the prison system, the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) will close its four minimum-security camps - Pharsalia (located in Chenango County), Gabriels (located in Franklin County), Georgetown (located in
Madison County), and Mt. McGregor (located in Saratoga County). These facilities are currently at less than 47 percent of capacity. In addition, DOCS will close
several annexes to further consolidate the system. These actions will result
in a reduction of 554 positions. (2009-10 Savings: $26 million; 2010-11
Savings: $29 million...

Eliminate Board of Prisoner Payments to Local Jailsl. The budget eliminates the $37.60 per diem payment to local jails for housing "state-ready" inmates and parole violators. The impact of these populations on local jails has significantly decreased, as a result of improved practices by DOCS and the Division of Parole, including better processes for reporting "state-ready" status, use of roving administrative law judges, and other measures. To ensure the state continues to move inmates from local jails to state prison in a timely manner, new legislation will require DOCS to provide a bed for the inmate within ten business days of being declared "state-ready", except in instances where there are circumstances outside the Department's control. If the ten-day requirement is not met, the Department will reimburse the county approximately $100 per day (retroactive to the first day) for housing that "state-ready" inmate in their jail. (2009-10 Savings: $10 million; 2010-11
Savings: $21 million)...

Accelerated Prison Closure Process. Under current law, the Commissioner of Correctional Services is required to give notice one year before closing a prison, and to provide a re-use plan before actually closing a prison. While a laudable process, during hard economic times the state must be free to move more swiftly to eliminate wasteful excess prison capacity. New legislation will allow the Commissioner - in the wake of a fiscal crisis to eliminate excess prison capacity with 90 days notice. This accelerated closure process would then remain in effect for three years.

Reform Sentencing and Parole Practices. The budget advances preliminary recommendations of the Commission on Sentencing Reform regarding merit time credits, intensive rehabilitation programs coupled with early release, graduated sanctions for parolees, and the use of a risk and needs
assessment tool to increase an offender's chance for success in the community. These proposals, together with continued population declines, are expected to reduce the prison population by approximately 1,600 inmates without compromising public safety, allowing the Department to close an equivalent number of medium-security beds by January 2010 and eliminate
approximately 750 positions. (2009-10 Savings: $15 million; 2010-11 Savings:
$60 million)...