New York Great Meadow Correctional Facility A Crucial Employer Is Closing

One of the top employers in Washington County New York’s is closing. The Great Meadow Correctional Facility was announced by the The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision that it will close on November 6th, 2024. They also said the Sullivan County Correctional Facility will also be closing

The Great Meadow Correctional Facility currently employees a total of 650 people. 489 of the 650 are security personnel which include sergeants, lieutenants, and corrections, officers. We were advised that every employee will be offered an opportunity to transfer to other State positions.

There are currently 480 inmates that will transfer to other facilities.

Surrounding restaurants, shops, and stores will be effected by the loss of business from the closure.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said the reasons for the closure includes the decline of the physical infrastructure, decreasing inmate population, and requirements to be meet for specialized medical and mental health services. They also are having a difficult time hiring staff to work at correctional facilities across the State.

In the announcement by the The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision they said, “The decision to close only two facilities was purposefully made to minimize the effect on staff, and at the same time attempt to close the gap on staffing shortages in our correctional facilities.”

The State currently spends 80 million a year on maintaining every correctional facility and the three support buildings.

The Department of Corrections and Community will be finding a way to have the facilities rehabilitated so that they can be reused and not left empty.