Keep Monterey Open!

[UPDATE, MARCH 31: O'Mara, Palmesano, Friend criticize new budget for failing to save Monterey, vow to continue fight, read more HERE]

[UPDATE, MARCH 14: Senate approves budget resolution that says no to Cuomo closure plan, read more HERE] 

[UPDATE, MARCH 11: At a protest rally in Albany, Senator O'Mara, colleagues address local Monterey supporters and say Senate will reject Cuomo closure plan, Read and Watch more HERE]

[UPDATE, FEBRUARY 26: March 11th protest rally in Albany, local bus caravan will leave from Elmira that morning, find out more and sign up to go HERE]

[UPDATE, FEBRUARY 19: O'Mara, Friend and Palmesano reject Cuomo's college-for-inmates proposal, renew call to Save Monterey, Read More Here]

[UPDATE, FEBRUARY 5: Senator O'Mara questions the Cuomo administration at a legislative budget hearing, WATCH HERE]

[UPDATE, JANUARY 2014: Find out more in the attached document at the bottom of this page about a January 26, 2014 fundraising event at Rossi Lanes in Elmira to support the ongoing efforts to Keep Monterey Open] 

[UPDATE, JANUARY 21: Governor Cuomo's 2014-2015 proposed state budget doesn't save Monterey, but Senator O'Mara vows to fight on, read more HERE]

On July 26, 2013, the Cuomo administration announced its plan to close the Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in Schuyler County later this year.

The scheduled closing of Monterey is more tough news for our region, which is already reeling from devastating job losses.

The goals of downsizing and cost-effectiveness in government are moves in the right direction. But the Cuomo administration’s approach appears to be taking a particular toll on our region and other upstate communities – and it’s not making fiscal or programmatic sense.

Monterey was New York’s first “shock” facility. For more than 25 years, the Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility has stood as an innovative and successful corrections initiative. The unique blend of counseling, education and treatment at our shock facilities has saved the state over a billion dollars during this time.

In particular, the participation of Monterey inmates in numerous community service and enhancement projects across a four-county region for more than two decades has been invaluable. During the past six years alone, Monterey inmate work crews have saved local communities and taxpayers nearly $6 million!

There are currently 124 locally based employees at the Monterey facility.

Closing Monterey puts local jobs (and the families and communities who depend on them) at risk. It will result in significant local tax increases.

And it diminishes the effectiveness of New York State’s system of correctional services. The administration and staff of Monterey, past and present, have turned around numerous lives that were once at a dead-end but that, today, are productive and successful.

You can help Keep Monterey Open! by signing an online petition to support the efforts of Senator O’Mara and other local, state and federal leaders to express the fundamental importance of the Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility.

To sign the petition, CLICK HERE.

Follow ongoing local efforts to help save Monterey on Facebook here.months.

[NOTE: If you'd like to help circulate a paper petition in support of the Monterey Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility, CLICK HERE] 

"Saving Monterey Shock" public rallies were held at the Watkins Glen Community Center on Monday, September 9th and at the National Soaring Museum in Elmira on Saturday, October 26th.

You can also share your thoughts directly with:

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo HERE; and

the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision HERE.