Assemblymember Scott Gray (R-Watertown) unveiled a  strategy today to bolster support for prison facilities in the North Country. The new approach emphasizes hosting recruitment teams, promoting the high standards of existing facilities and staunch opposition to any 

further rounds of potential closures.

Last week Gov. Kathy Hochul shared plans to close Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Washington County and Sullivan Correctional Facility in Sullivan County.

That’s temporarily related to fears of additional prison closings in St. Lawrence County, but the Governor still has the power to close as many as three additional prisons.

Gray and others are rallying to show the state why North Country prisons should remain open.

Active Recruitment Initiatives: Employment Plus

Gray announced his office will become a proactive participant in recruitment efforts to ensure the North Country is in a staff-plus position, working with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to schedule recruitment sessions. “Our goal is to attract dedicated professionals committed to the safety, rehabilitation and well-being of incarcerated individuals,” said Gray. “By becoming active participants in recruitment, we can position the North Country to place more people in the system than we employ locally, ensuring we add value to the overall DOCCS system.”

Commitment to Promoting Our Quality Facilities 

Gray underscored the importance of keeping current facilities open, highlighting their attributes of quality staff, positive staffing levels and quality medical care and rehabilitation programs. “The North Country’s prison facilities are exemplary due to the dedication and expertise of both our corrections and civilian staff,” Gray stated. “We have robust programs that not only ensure the safety and health of incarcerated individuals but also provide meaningful opportunities for their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.”

Opposition to Further Closures

Gray strongly opposes any further rounds of potential closures, citing the detrimental impact on morale and community stability. “Ongoing rounds of closures create uncertainty and instability, not only for the staff but also for the surrounding communities,” Gray emphasized. “Nothing is more demoralizing than having a constant, never-ending threat of closures. Imagine what an annual threat of SUNY campus closures would look like and the enrollment problems it would cause. Such instability is bad public policy and undermines the confidence in our correctional system.”

Gray says  that preserving the continuity and stability of prison facilities is crucial for maintaining morale and ensuring the continued success of rehabilitation programs. “We must be aggressive against further closures to protect the integrity and functionality of our correctional facilities,” he said. “I strongly encourage our St. Lawrence and Jefferson County communities to join these efforts. This new posture demonstrates our commitment to the North Country’s prisons through proactive recruitment, upholding high standards and opposing further closures to ensure the system’s success and stability.”