North Country Leader

Assemblymember Scott Gray (R-Watertown) unveiled a comprehensive strategy today aimed at bolstering support for prison facilities in the North Country. The new approach emphasizes active recruitment, promoting the high standards of existing facilities, and opposing any further rounds of potential closures.

Gray announced his office will become a proactive participant in recruitment efforts to ensure the North Country is in a staff-plus position. He plans to work 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.”

Gray underscored the importance of keeping current facilities open by highlighting their attributes: 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.”

Gray strongly opposes any further rounds of potential closures, citing their 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 confidence in our correctional system.”

Gray reinforced that preserving continuity and stability within prison facilities is crucial for maintaining morale and ensuring continued success in 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.”