Correctional Services, Department of

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/22/08.

Mission

The Department of Correctional Services is responsible for the safe and secure confinement of convicted felons, and the preparation of these individuals for successful reintegration into the community upon release.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $3.0 billion All Funds ($2.5 billion General Fund; $38 million Federal Funds; $20 million Other Funds; $74 million Internal Service Funds; $44 million Enterprise Funds; and $320 million in Capital Projects Funds) for the Department of Correctional Services. This is an increase of $67 million ($33 million General Fund, $14 million Other Funds, $20 million Capital Projects Funds) from the 2007-08 budget. This net change primarily reflects continued growth in re-entry and mental health programs for inmates, higher health care costs including pharmaceuticals and billings from outside medical providers, as well as investments in the Department's technological infrastructure. Offsetting savings are achieved by closing three Camps and one Correctional Facility, and implementing operational efficiencies, including: initiatives to reduce energy usage, improving the delivery of inmate health care, and constraining overtime.

The Executive Budget recommends a staffing level of 31,603 FTEs for the Department of Correctional Services, a decrease of 153 from the 2007-08 budget. This primarily reflects the anticipated facility closures offset by an expansion of mental health and re-entry programs.

Major budget actions include:

• Reflecting Savings from Prison Closures: Since 1999 the Department's under-custody population has fallen by over 9,000 inmates, particularly in minimum security facilities, and has resulted in significant areas of unused prison capacity. Under New York State law, the Commissioner is required to issue notification one-year prior to closing a prison and to explore the potential for reuse. The Department will follow the provisions of the law, and anticipates a January 2009 closure date for Camp Pharsalia, Camp Gabriels, the Camp at the Mt. McGregor Correctional Facility and the Hudson Correctional Facility. Staff at these facilities will be offered positions at other correctional facilities or can accept openings in other State agencies if they prefer.

• Expanding Re-entry Programs: The Department recently opened its first Re-entry Unit at the Orleans Correctional Facility which connects inmates nearing release with community support programs. This 60-bed Unit houses inmates who will be released to nearby Erie County and allows parole officers, social workers, employment counselors, community organization volunteers and others to meet with inmates prior to their release. The Department will replicate this unit at three additional facilities during 2008-09. The Department will also expand its Family Reunion Program which provides select inmates the opportunity to meet in private with their families for an extended period of time. Investments in the Department's technological infrastructure will also permit the development of applications to enhance the effectiveness of existing rehabilitative programs and improve on the sharing of data with other criminal justice agencies.

• Establishing a Parole Violator Facility: The Edgecombe Correctional Facility will be used to hold technical parole violators for up to 30 days. The facility will have the capacity to hold 100 parolees and resources will be provided to expand this program by up to 130 additional parolees. The Department will contract with an Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services licensed provider to deliver the treatment program at this facility. Parolees entering the facility will receive an assessment for placement in a drug intervention, cognitive behavior, or drug prevention program. Upon their release they will receive case management community follow-up.

• Additional Mental Health Treatment Programs: The Department, in cooperation with the Office of Mental Health, will continue to expand its mental health treatment programs. During the 2008-09 fiscal year, additional residential treatment units, which provide intensive treatment and programs to inmates with serious mental illness, will be opened at the Albion, Bedford Hills, Green Haven, Fishkill and Great Meadow Correctional Facilities. A new 100 bed Residential Mental Health Unit will open at the Marcy Correctional Facility to provide inmate-patients, who were identified with a serious mental illness while in disciplinary confinement, with specialized treatment. Other mental health initiatives starting in 2008-09 include opening 215 beds for inmates to transition out of mental health units and back into general confinement, and expansion of mental health assessments at Reception Centers. More than $36 million in capital investments will be committed to implement these initiatives.

• Implementing Operational Efficiencies: Savings will be achieved by focusing on capital improvement projects that reduce energy utilization, exploring new ways to deliver health services in a more cost-effective manner (including the expanded utilization of telemedicine), and from tightening overtime controls. Health services costs will also be reduced by expediting the parole medical release procedures for terminally ill inmates and inmates with severe incapacitating conditions.

• Offering Cook/Chill Products to Local Jails: The Food Production Center at the Oneida Correctional Facility provides low cost and nutritious meals to inmates at all of the Department's 70 correctional institutions. At a cost reflecting only the production and transportation of the food product, local jails will have the option to purchase bulk quantities of chilled food that are easily reheated, or cook/chill products, resulting in savings for the participating jails while providing their inmates with the same nutritious meals that are served in State prisons.

2008-09 Executive Budget — Agency Presentation
Correctional Services, Department of (PDF)