Chemung County Legislature Opposes The Closing Of Monterey Shock Incarceration Facility On October 15th, the Chemung County Legislature passed the following resolution:
RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR TO MAINTAIN OPERATION OF THE MONTEREY SHOCK INCARCERATION FACILITY IN RESPECT OF THE SAVINGS TO TAXPAYERS
WHEREAS, the Monterey Shock Incarceration Facility was the first of its type in New York state, started over 25 years ago, and
WHEREAS, the concept of shock incarceration has proven to be highly successful, with recidivism rates significantly below normal rates, and
WHEREAS, the Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility makes inmate work crews available to all local government entities within Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, and Tompkins Counties, and
WHEREAS, the Monterey Shock Incarceration Facility work crews supplied 472,266 hours of labor during the period of January 1, 2009 through July 31, 2013, 41,765 hours in Chemung county alone, and
WHEREAS, the monetary value of such Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility work crew hours calculated at minimum wage represents a savings to taxpayers, in excess of $3.4 million of which $1.97 million benefits New York State agencies including Elmira and Southport Correctional Facilities, Elmira Psychiatric Center, Willard DTC, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, State Parks and th State Fire Academy, and
WHEREAS, Chemung County communities and organizations including the Elmira Corning Regional Airport, Chemung County’s Harris Hill Park and Park Station, the City of Elmira, the Village of Horseheads and Wellsburg, the Towns of Erin and Veteran, Foodbank of the Southern Tier, the Sullivan Trail Chapter of the Red Cross, Notre Dame High School, Elmira Heights Cinderella Softball and Little League, Community Arts Center, Woodlawn Cemetery and the Pine City Sportsman Club have utilized the Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility work crews to the benefit of taxpayers in Chemung County, and
WHEREAS, in 2012 the Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility work crew hours for Chemung County municipalities totaled 10,740 hours which represents a savings to Chemung County taxpayers of $186,876, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Chemung County Legislature urges the Governor and Department of Correctional Services Acting Commissioner not to close the Monterey Shock Incareration Correctional Facility, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this Resolution be sent to the Honorable Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Honorable Senator Thomas F. O’Mara, Honorable Assemblyman Philip Palmesano, and New York State Department of Correctional Services Acting Commissioner Anthony J Annucci.
Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange has been a vocal supporter of the Monterey Shock Incarceration Facility urging residents to sign petitions, attending rallies and speaking out in support of keeping the facility open. “I strongly support Monterey Shock because it has been proven over and over that the program works in rehabilitating the inmates that go through the program,” Strange said. “The monetary savings from the labor that is preformed by the inmates for the communities that surround it is truly remarkable and would not be done if it were not for them. Monterey Shock must be saved!,” Strange concluded.