Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration is exploring the construction of a new 3,000-bed state prison, a move that would make it the largest correctional facility in New York. The state Department of Corrections is currently seeking proposals for the potential $750 million facility, according to documents obtained by The Post.
The proposed facility would include multiple housing and support buildings, security systems, and significant infrastructure improvements. The documents indicate the location would require access to transportation and community support services, but specific sites have not been identified.
This development follows criticism Hochul has faced from corrections officers for closing nearly a dozen state prisons since she took office. The state's prison population has been declining, and the system has struggled with staffing.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed surprise and demanded explanations regarding the potential project. Assemblyman Scott Gray stated that before any funds are allocated for new construction, the state should provide an accounting of its existing correctional real estate. He questioned the need for a new facility when older ones are being shuttered and expressed concern that a new "mega facility" could precede further closures and staff reductions.
"Across the state, the pattern is the same: facilities close, communities lose economic activity, and properties sit unused with no credible plan for reuse," Gray said in a statement. "The state’s track record on this is poor, and the result is significant real estate damage in community after community."
State Corrections Department spokesman Tom Mailey described the study as a "conceptual exploration" with no decisions made. He stated that the department is examining what a modern facility could entail, focusing on incorporating technology and spaces for rehabilitative and reintegrative programming. Mailey added that modernizing technology could enhance safety for staff and incarcerated individuals and allow for the phasing out of inefficient systems.
Jess D’Amelia, a representative for Governor Hochul, explained that the study is intended to evaluate "how to best modernize an aging prison infrastructure," some of which is over 200 years old. She cautioned that plans for a new facility are not final and that the administration is committed to exploring all avenues to improve safety within the prison system.