For IMMEDIATE Release: September 18, 2009
Contact: Dain Pascocello, 518-455-5981
Assemblyman David Townsend (R,WF-Sylvan Beach) visited Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School Wednesday evening to take part in a presentation about cost-containment at New York State's correctional facilities. Assemblyman Townsend listened to testimony and gathered information for the task force's official report, to be issued in Albany in the near future. Safety and staffing for prison employees were discussed as well by representatives from NYSCOPBA. A spokesman for the group noted that while corrections staff working directly with New York’s prison population has declined by 2,500 over the last decade the number of administrative staff personnel has doubled, resulting in high operating costs for state taxpayers.
"Everyone agrees that New York is facing a difficult financial future and we ought to responsibly search for savings where we can," said Townsend. "The work of this task force is concerned with recognizing inefficiencies in our current corrections system and replacing them with models that work. But the sacrifice can be shared more equitably. The work of our frontline corrections staff is critical to the safety of our citizens and the rehabilitation of New York's inmates. They ought to have our support. I am grateful to all our discussants for bringing these facts forward."
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