Cuomo Wants Quicker Process For Closing New York Prisons

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is recommending a proposal that would give him the ability to close state prisons on a faster timeline.

The measure is included in Cuomo�s budget proposal, which was rolled out Tuesday. The proposal would allow the governor to close state prisons if he gives at least a 90-day notice to legislative leaders.

Current law requires the head of New York�s prison agency to give a year notice before closing a correctional facility, according to a memorandum in support of the proposal. It says the state�s prison population has fallen by thousands since late 1999 and more than a dozen facilities have closed since the early 2010s.

New York �must be able to act expeditiously to eliminate excess prison capacity in order to use scarce taxpayer dollars as efficiently and prudently as possible,� according to the document.

The correctional officers� union criticized Cuomo�s budget and said past prison closures have forced the state�s �most dangerous criminals into close quarters with one another.�

�We will fight tirelessly for our members to preserve their livelihood and make sure our prison system is as safe as possible,� said Michael Powers, president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, in a prepared statement.

If approved, the measure would be effective from April 2020 through March 2021.

(AP)