Kingsway Correctional Facility
This sprawling rural campus began its life as a state training school for boys. Once the training school had closed, work began to convert the campus to a medium security prison. New buildings were also added to the site before its grand opening in June of 1977. The prison had a population of 400 but quickly rose to 1,000 during the 1980's drug war. The prison was medium security with inmates being housed in former cottages for the state training school.
The programs held at this prison were considered to be one of a kind and very innovative. One of these programs was called "Puppies Behind Bars". This program allowed the inmates to raise a puppy that would later go on to become guide dogs for the disabled. In a two-year time frame, the program had placed 23 dogs. Other programs were held for aggression management, carpentry, and other various outreach programs.
The prison became famous for two other cases during its lifespan. One of them being at the hands of a corrections officer secretly collaborating with inmates to care for stray cats left in the area. This officer was then charged with "collaboration with inmates and contraband (cat food)". He was subsequently fired but re-hired two months later. In 1979, this prison was the site of a strike by prison employees. National Guardsmen needed to be sent to the prison to break the strike and were housed in employee housing. this was the only known case of the Third Amendment in the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2011, the current governor of NY closed the facility for good. The buildings have since then been purchased by many agencies and currently have mixed-use functions throughout the campus.
Read MoreThe programs held at this prison were considered to be one of a kind and very innovative. One of these programs was called "Puppies Behind Bars". This program allowed the inmates to raise a puppy that would later go on to become guide dogs for the disabled. In a two-year time frame, the program had placed 23 dogs. Other programs were held for aggression management, carpentry, and other various outreach programs.
The prison became famous for two other cases during its lifespan. One of them being at the hands of a corrections officer secretly collaborating with inmates to care for stray cats left in the area. This officer was then charged with "collaboration with inmates and contraband (cat food)". He was subsequently fired but re-hired two months later. In 1979, this prison was the site of a strike by prison employees. National Guardsmen needed to be sent to the prison to break the strike and were housed in employee housing. this was the only known case of the Third Amendment in the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2011, the current governor of NY closed the facility for good. The buildings have since then been purchased by many agencies and currently have mixed-use functions throughout the campus.
