Schumer calls for more prison guards

OTISVILLE – The Federal Correctional Facility at Otisville is home to 1,205 prisoners while the facility is rated for 844. At the same time, it is operating with 44 fewer guards than are authorized and while the number of inmate assaults is relatively low, Senator Charles Schumer said he will seek more funding for additional staff.

Schumer toured the prison Monday and praised the staff, but expressed concern about the possible risk involved with the overpopulation and understaffing.

“As was described to me, it’s sort of like driving without a seatbelt. Everything is good until God forbid you have that accident and then without that seatbelt, the danger is much, much worse,” he said. “We don’t want that to happen here at Otisville.”

Schumer said the prison is doing good things with the inmates including teaching them building solar panels.

While federal prisons are said to be bursting at the seams, the state says its prisons are under-crowded, thus the reason for closures. “Maybe the federal government could use some of the state facilities, but often times that is hard to do unless you take it over totally.”