U.S. Rep Nick Langworthy speaks last February at the Collins Correctional Facility during the work stoppage.

A regional facility is part of a downsizing plan by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

In a news release issued this morning, officials announced a portion of the Collins Correctional Facility will be consolidated to more efficiently deploy staff and manage the

facility. DOCCS will be consolidating one side of the Collins Correctional Facility with the goal of completing the transition by the end of the Fiscal Year. This is part of the Department’s ongoing plan to be transparent and consolidate services to ease staffing.

“The decision to close any facility is difficult for all involved,” the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said in the release. “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 closure of one facility and consolidation of Collins Correctional Facility will help ensure the safe and efficient operation of the system, utilizing staff more effectively while operating programs in a safe manner. This decision was decisively made to minimize the effect on staff, and at the same time attempt to close the gap on staffing shortages in our correctional facilities.”

This review was based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, available beds, physical infrastructure, program offerings and whether they can be relocated to other institutions, facility security level, specialized medical and mental health services, locations where there are no Correction Officer reassignment lists, and other facilities in the area to minimize the impact to staff.

Across the state, one correctional facility will be closed. The Bare Hill Correctional Facility in Malone will cease to operate on March 11 at the close of business.

All 293 DOCCS staff assigned to Bare Hill will be offered positions at other facilities, and neighboring correctional facilities will be able to safely absorb the incarcerated population into vacant beds at other institutions. With over 650 vacant staff positions available in correctional facilities located in Franklin, Clinton and Essex Counties the Department will be able to ensure no staff are laid off, mitigating the impact on both staff, their families and the community.

DOCCS will work closely with the various bargaining units to provide staff with opportunities for priority placement via voluntary transfers, as well as priority employment at other facilities or other state agencies as a result of the formal Civil Service process that is followed with the closure of a correctional facility. DOCCS does not anticipate any layoffs due to these closures.

Bare Hill Correctional Facility will be maintained in a state of ready, to include utilities (heat, water, electric, sewage, etc.) and maintenance staff to provide for the upkeep of facility infrastructure. The Collins Correctional Facility consolidation will be similarly maintained.

“The decision to close any facility is difficult for all involved. 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 department noted. “The closure of one facility and consolidation of Collins Correctional Facility will help ensure the safe and efficient operation of the system, utilizing staff more effectively while operating programs in a safe manner. This decision was decisively made to minimize the effect on staff, and at the same time attempt to close the gap on staffing shortages in our correctional facilities.”