To the Editor:

The New York State Commission on Corrections has closed our jail effective May 16, 2006.

We are allowed to stay open with a variance and a commitment to build a new facility.

Due to state regulations we have been able to house about 30–32 inmates in our jail.

That has left Herkimer County boarding out to other counties an average of 25 inmates with a high of up to 50 inmates. This has cost taxpayers approximately $2.9 million dollars over the last three years with nothing to show for these expenditures.

The Commission has made it clear that boarding out is not a permanent solution. Continue reading →