BEACON – The Correctional Association of New York, designated by law to provide independent oversight of prisons in New York State, released a new report Thursday containing findings from a two-day monitoring visit to Fishkill Correctional Facility, a medium security prison for adult men in Beacon.
This visit was conducted in July 2023 as part of the association’s oversight mandate according to state law.
According to the report, the primary concerns raised on the visit involved deteriorating infrastructure, extreme temperatures, and limited access to healthcare and programmatic activities due to staffing shortages and other factors.
During the visit, association representatives met with prison officials, medical and health staff, and incarcerated individuals across various housing units and specialized programs within the facility. A total of 109 interviews were conducted with incarcerated individuals, covering general population areas as well as specialized units including the Special Housing Unit, Residential Rehabilitation Unit, and units housing individuals in work release programs.
Key Observations and Findings:
- Healthcare: Incarcerated individuals raised concerns about access to timely medical care, including slow sick call and specialty care processes, medication shortages, and a lack of emergency nurses.
- Programming: Overall, incarcerated people reported positively on the quality of programs offered at Fishkill, particularly the college program. However, some expressed concerns about limited program availability.
- Commissary: Incarcerated individuals reported feeling rushed when making purchases from the commissary and experiencing harassment from staff. Additionally, the lack of refrigeration or access to ice machines limits the storage of perishable food items.
- Material Conditions and Environmental Issues: CANY representatives observed high temperatures throughout the facility and noted concerns about aging infrastructure, including potential asbestos exposure, peeling paint, and electrical issues.
- Staff-Incarcerated Individual Interactions: While many incarcerated people expressed appreciation for professional staff interactions, especially for staff providing mental health treatment and support, some reported instances of staff assaults and a need for increased video surveillance.
- Grievances: Many incarcerated people did not report filing grievances due to fear of retaliation from staff.
