The Greene County Jail in Catskill is being called one of the state's "five worst offenders" in a new report, which says the 113-year-old jail has outlived its usefulness.
The report says the facility, which is authorized to hold 40 inmates, has deteriorated in recent years to the detriment of both inmate and staff safety. For instance, during a 2016 inspection, windows in three second-floor cells were either inoperable, broken, or stuck open, exposing inmates to the elements. Nonetheless, inmates were still being housed in those cells.
Hiring and retention of correction officers is said to be problematic, with many leaving for better and higher-paying jobs as soon as possible after basic training.
The Commission says without immediate improvement, eventual closure is a possibility.
The other "worst offenders" described in the report include Rikers Island in New York City, the Erie County Correctional Facility in Buffalo, the Dutchess County Jail, and the Onondaga County Justice Center in Syracuse.
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