Capital District Times

Fort Ann, N.Y. - Congresswoman Elise Stefanik today led a bipartisan rally to save Great Meadows Correctional Facility in Washington County after Governor Kathy Hochul announced plans to close the prison, which would result in significant job losses in the North Country.

"I will always stand up for our correctional officers, their families, and our Upstate communities against attacks by failed Governor Kathy Hochul and her radical Far Left Democrat agenda hurting hardworking Upstate New York families. If the decision to close Great Meadows Correctional Facility is followed through, it will result in the single largest loss of jobs in the North Country in over ten years with over 800 jobs lost or relocated in addition to the hundreds of jobs that support the prison staff," said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.

"After meeting with our hardworking correctional officers, it is clear that more support from the state is needed to address the low staffing and retention issues our prison facilities are facing. In addition to the devastating job losses, Kathy Hochul’s forced closures will lead to dangerous overcrowding in our remaining prisons, all while ‘inmate on officers’ assaults are at record numbers. We must work together to end this madness from Kathy Hochul and save Great Meadows Correctional Facility,” she added.

“NYSCOPBA members were joined by Congresswoman Stefanik at a rally to denounce the closure of Great Meadow and called on Governor Hochul to put a stop to the closures which will cost the community hundreds of jobs and force many families to relocate,” said New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) President Chris Summers. "Instead focus on vital issues such as ongoing violence against staff, short staffing, recruitment and retention of officers. The safety of those brave men and women certainly should never be at the expense of saving money. You can’t put a value on protecting the men and women who protect us. I want to thank Congresswoman Stefanik for joining us and bringing national attention to this issue."

“As the NYSCOPBA Northern Region Vice President, it is disheartening to see Governor Kathy Hochul close yet another facility in Upstate New York. I’m calling on Albany to think about the hundreds of families in our community that will be left scrambling by these closures. These are our neighbors who work hard to keep our communities safe. It is up to us as their representatives to make sure they are being taken care of while they take care of us. I appreciate Representative Stefanik bringing attention to this issue,” said NYSCOPBA Northern Region Vice-Chair John Roberts.

In July 2024, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called on Kathy Hochul to reverse her decision following a recommendation by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to close Great Meadow and Sullivan Correctional Facilities.

In December 2021, Congresswoman Stefanik led a rally to save prisons in the North Country following Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement of closing six New York prisons, including Ogdensburg Correctional Facility and Moriah Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility.