Press Releases
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997
2013
- Prison Acting Commissioner Awards Medals to Four Employees; Ceremony Also Honors 42 Who Died in the Line of Duty (June 13, 2013)
- New York State Correction Officer Examination Scheduled for April 13, 2013 (January 25, 2013)
2012
- Alan Hevesi Granted Release by the Board of Parole (November 15, 2012)
- Hank Morris Denied Release by the Board of Parole (November 15, 2012)
- DOCCS Inmates Convicted of Murdering NYPD Police Officer Edward Byrne in 1988 Denied Parole (November 15, 2012)
- State Prepares For Annual Operation Halloween Initiative (October 30, 2012)
- Five Points Locked Down Following Yard Incident (October 22, 2012)
- Commissioner Brian Fischer issues a public statement in response to a New York Civil Liberties Union report regarding the use of disciplinary segregation in DOCCS facilities (October 2, 2012)
- Updated DOCCS Visitation Regulations Implementated at All Department Facilities (October 1, 2012)
- DOCCS Marks 25th Anniversary Of Shock Incarceration (September 12, 2012)
- DOCCS Extends Standard Offender Identification Card (July 18, 2012)
- DOCCS Commissioner Honors Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Professionals (July 16, 2012)
- Prison Commissioner Awards Medals to Five Employees; Ceremony Also Honors 41 Who Died in the Line of Duty (June 14, 2012)
- DOCCS to Eliminate Staff Housing (April 13, 2012)
- DOCCS Reviewing All Property Housing, Property Assets (April 5, 2012)
- DOCCS Updates Visitation Regulations (March 28, 2012)
- DOCCS issues a press release distributing a fact sheet that provides statistical information on a variety of issues, including prison safety, security staff employment and inmate population. (March 15, 2012)
- DOCCS, DMV Open Cost-Saving Call Center at Greene Correctional Facility (January 10, 2012)
2011
- Disciplinary Action Taken Against Inmate Ralph Phillips (November 8, 2011)
- DOCCS Achieves Goals During Operation Halloween (November 3, 2011)
- LOCKDOWN ENDS AT ATTICA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (September 28, 2011)
- 2011 Best Of New York Awards Honor DOCCS Secure Offender Network LAW LIBRARY AUTOMATION PROJECT (September 15, 2011)
- DOCCS Commissioner Honors Probation, Parole and Community Supervision Professionals (July 18, 2011)
- Governor Cuomo Announces Closure Of Seven State Prison Facilities (June 30, 2011)
- New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to Participate in NYS HIV Prevention Planning Group Conference (June 21, 2011)
- Prison Commissioner Awards Medals to Four Correction Officers; Ceremony Also Honors 35 Who Died in the Line of Duty (June 14, 2011)
- Department of Correctional Services and Tax Department announce Tax Fraud arrest (March 25, 2011)
- Statement of Condolence - Commissioner Fischer (January 28, 2011)
2010
- Departments of Correctional Services and Motor Vehicles Open Cost-Saving Call Center at Women's Bedford Hills Correctional Facility (December 27, 2010)
- New York State Correction Officer Examination Scheduled for October 16, 2010 (August 16, 2010)
- Prison Commissioner Awards Medals to Two Employees; Ceremony Also Honors 35 Employees Who Died in the Line of Duty (June 10, 2010)
- Prison System to Temporarily Consolidate Under-Populated Inmate Housing Units, Providing Taxpayer Savings With No Job Losses or Transfers (March 15, 2010)
2009
- DOCS, OMH Open Residential Mental Health Unit at Marcy Correctional Facility (December 15, 2009)
- New York to Become First State to Provide On-Line Victim Notification System in Spanish Statewide (November 30, 2009)
- Nueva York Será el Primer Estado que Provee a la Víctima el Sistema de Notificación en Español Online a lo Largo del Estado (30 de noviembre de 2009)
- Federal Stimulus Grants to Help Inmates, Ex-Offenders Obtain Jobs (September 17, 2009)
- Key Element of Drug Law Reform Takes Effect as Older Offenders, General Population Inmates Transfer into Shock Incarceration (August 6, 2009)
- Bayview Correctional Facility Opens Reentry Unit for Female Offenders Returning to New York City, Suburbs (July 13, 2009)
- State Agencies Partner On Prison-Based Addiction Services (July 2, 2009)
- Prison Commissioner Awards Medals to Two Correction Officers; Ceremony Also Honors 35 Who Died in the Line of Duty (June 4, 2009)
- Hudson Correctional Facility Opens Reentry Unit for Offenders Returning to Capital District (March 2, 2009)
- Correctional Services Commissioner Outlines Proposals to Improve State Prison System in Address to Citizens Crime Commission of New York City (February 18, 2009)
- Correctional Services Commissioner Tours DOCS Food Production Center, Touts Executive Budget’s Public Safety, Criminal Justice Proposals (February 11, 2009)
- New York State Correction Officer Examination Scheduled for April 4, 2009 (January 5, 2009)
2008
- Governor Paterson releases 2009-10 Budget Proposal (December 16, 2008)
- Department of Correctional Services and Division of Parole Develop Brochure for Families of Offenders Returning Home to Help With Adjustment From Prison to Community (December 10, 2008)
- Department of Correctional Services Opens Specialized “Reentry” Unit to Prepare Inmates for Release to Monroe County; Follows Erie County Unit (December 4, 2008)
- Department of Correctional Services Plans Additional Consolidations as Part of Continuing Cost-Saving Efforts (November 6, 2008)
- Department of Motor Vehicle Informational Call Center Program Marks 20 Years at Arthur Kill Correctional Facility (October 31, 2008)
- Department of Correctional Services Budget Reductions Will Maintain Safety and Security; Consolidations of Dormitories and Annexes Reflect Declining Prison Population (September 25, 2008)
- New York State Correction Officer Examination Scheduled for Oct. 18, 2008 (July 7, 2008)
- Rwandan Prison Directors Attend DOCS' "Superintendent's Course" (June 18, 2008)
- Singapore Prison Officials Tour WNY Correctional Facilities to Observe Practices (June 16, 2008)
- Correctional Services Commissioner Awards Medals to Seven Correction Officers Who Helped Fellow Citizens; Ceremony Also Honors 35 Who Died in the Line of Duty (June 5, 2008)
- Australian Executives visit Arthur Kill Correctional Facility to See Program That Helps Inmates with Developmental Disabilities Prepare for Life After Prison (June 4, 2008)
- AmeriCorps*VISTA and Community Volunteers Teach Parenting to Incarcerated Offenders; DOCS Seeking VISTA Volunteers at Additional Prisons (May 22, 2008)
- Inmate Larry Davis Dies at Shawangunk Correction Facility in Apparent Homicide (February 21, 2008)
- New York to Close Correctional Facilities as Part of Continuing Effort to Right-Size State Prison System (January 11, 2008)
- New York State correction officer examination scheduled for April 12, 2008 (January 2, 2008)
2007
- Detailed Information to Help Crime Victims Now Available On-Line (December 18, 2007)
- Inmate collect call phone rates reduced again (December 13, 2007)
- Work Release Inmates in Upstate New York Receiving Community Drug Treatment (November 20, 2007)
- New York Marks 20 Years of Successful Shock Incarceration (September 5, 2007)
- Family Guide for Families of the Incarcerated Now Easily Accessible on State Web Site (August 31, 2007)
- Civilian Employees at State Correctional Facilities to Receive State-of-the-Art Personal Alarms (August 30, 2007)
- New York State correction officer examination scheduled for October 27, 2007 (July 25, 2007)
- Prison Commissioner Awards Medals To Four Employees For Acts Of Courage (June 7, 2007)
- Acting Commissioner Fischer's Remarks at the Bard College Graduation Eastern Correctional Facility (February 3, 2007)
2006
- New York state Correction Officer examination scheduled for September 9, 2006 (June 20, 2006)
- Prison Commissioner Awards Medals To Four Employees For Acts Of Courage (June 8, 2006)
- Commissioner Goord writes Congressional subcommittee on prison issues (June 7, 2006)
- DOCS report details New York Prison safety (May 17, 2006)
- CO exam scheduled for April 8, 2006 to maintain safe, secure prisons (January 24, 2006)
2005
- CO exam scheduled for November 19, 2005 to maintain safe, secure prisons (September 1, 2005)
- Prison Commissioner awards medals to five employees who placed themselves in harm's way (June 9, 2005)
- Commissioner releases report on inmate escape from DOCS holding area at AMC (May 6, 2005)
189
KB - Prison Inmate Escapes at Albany Medical Center (April 25, 2005)
- Elmira Inmate Found Dead in Prison Infirmary (April 12, 2005)
2004
- Prison commissioner lifts freeze on Correction Officer reassignments to fill critical vacancies (July 22, 2004)
- CO exam scheduled for Oct. 30 to maintain safe, secure prisons (July 18, 2004)
- Fact sheet on release of inmate Joel Steinberg (89-A-2941) (June 30, 2004)
77
KB - Prison system awards medals for bravery, valor (June 10, 2004)
- Prison system suspends inmate sex offender treatment program in face of 'outrageous' court order (May 6, 2004)
- Inmate suspect ID’d in stabbing, throwing hot liquid on Green Haven Correction Officer (April 13, 2004)
- Commissioner: Staff complacency contributed to escape from Elmira prison (March 19, 2004)
- Elmira Escape: Commissioner's Report (March 19, 2004)
2,041
KB - Commissioner outlines decade of improving inmate medical care (March 15, 2004)
- Prison commissioner delays forced reassignment of staff (February 16, 2004)
- Prison Commissioner Goord says 'Fewer crimes mean fewer inmates' (January 23, 2004)
2003
- Record reduction in 'state ready' inmates saves counties money (December 22, 2003)
- 2 Clinton inmates die in 9 days in separate incidents involving cutting wounds (December 8, 2003)
- DOCS Commissioner welcomes Assembly majority to discussion of inmate health care (November 14, 2003)
- Testimony of Commissioner Glenn S. Goord on combined Assembly Correction and Health Committees Hearing on health care in New York state prisons (November 14, 2003)
892
KB - Prison Commissioner says Investigator Mike Williams "left a patriot and returns a hero" during Buffalo service eulogizing DOCS "citizen soldier" killed in Iraq bomb blast (October 27, 2003)
- Prison chief criticizes overall bias, inaccuracies in Correctional Association report (October 21, 2003)
- Prison system implementing new collect call phone rates (July 31, 2003)
- Inmate pay phone access fosters family ties, increases security for all (July 31, 2003)
138
KB - Search continues for two escapees from Elmira Correctional Facility (July 8, 2003)
- Correctional Services honors 34 employees who died in the line of duty; recognizes two employees with Medals of Merit for saving the lives of others (June 5, 2003)
- Commissioner Goord issues statement on arrest of imam (February 26, 2003)
- Coxsackie prison locked down for frisk after inmate fights, weapons possession (January 8, 2003)
2002
- Inmate recaptured after escaping Poughkeepsie hospital (December 31, 2002)
- Clinton prison locked down for search, drug-testing of inmates (September 10, 2002)
- Attica Task Force resumes hearings on July 30-31 in Albany (July 26, 2002)
- Goord: Association ignores public safety, maligns staff to promote inmates' issues (June 27, 2002)
- Governor helps honor New York's Correction Officers (June 4, 2002)
- Commissioner Goord's opening remarks before a hearing conducted by the Attica Task Force on Thursday, May 9, 2002, at the Rochester Institute of Technology (May 13, 2002)
- Attica Task Force to hear from 1971 riot victims, survivors (May 2, 2002)
- Inmate found dead at Elmira Correctional Facility (March 7, 2002)
- Commissioner: DOCS redirecting staff to improve prison security, inmate programs (February 25, 2002)
2001
- Photo of Commissioner Glenn S. Goord (November 30, 2001)
30
KB - Auburn Correctional Facility inmate found dead in cell (November 20, 2001)
- Mixing of cleaners results in fumes at Mt. McGregor (November 19, 2001)
- Staff successfully defuses civilian hostage incident at Elmira prison (October 1, 2001)
- Two Coxsackie employees, inmate injured by inmate armed with metal rod (September 5, 2001)
- Thomas A. Coughlin, III, the 'good public servant,' dies at 63 (August 24, 2001)
- Commissioner Goord demotes Five Points superintendent (August 15, 2001)
- New York extradites Sante Kimes to California; with son, faces murder charge and death penalty (June 19, 2001)
- Auburn Correctional Facility locked down for facility-wide search (June 11, 2001)
- Press releases on the June 7 Memorial Service and Medals Ceremony (June 7, 2001)
- Southport inmate Joel O'Keefe to be charged with attempted escape (June 4, 2001)
- Governor's policies continue to 'right size' prison population (April 24, 2001)
- Suspension follows Nazi flag-flying Officer's arrest for sodomy, misconduct (April 16, 2001)
- Inmate fight, use of chemical agents prompt lockdown at Elmira prison (April 13, 2001)
- Collins Correctional Facility searches for escaped inmate (March 30, 2001)
- Corrections sergeant accused of killing five kittens at Sing Sing; Faces felony charges under state's 1999 "Buster's Law" to protect animals (March 29, 2001)
- Correction on Canvas Art Show, now in its 35th year, opens April 2 (March 28, 2001)
- Annual inmate work exhibit goes on display in Albany, March 26-30 (March 26, 2001)
- Six Wende Correction Officers injured by baton-wielding inmate (March 23, 2001)
- Kenneth Kimes extradited to California to face murder charge, death penalty (March 21, 2001)
- Mohawk Superintendent Edward F. Reynolds dies at age 55 (March 1, 2001)
2000
- Photos of inmates granted clemency (December 22, 2000)
- Prison safety, inmate program enrollments continue to increase (December 7, 2000)
- Kenneth Kimes gets 8 years in SHU, mother gets 6 months, for prison rules violations (October 23, 2000)
- Governor's prison policies succeeding in "right sizing" the system (October 20, 2000)
- Prison incident ends as hostage-taker subdued, victim freed (October 10, 2000)
- Photos of Kenneth and Sante Kimes (October 10, 2000)
- Green Haven Deputy Superintendent, C.O. stabbed in attack by inmate (September 27, 2000)
- Clinton inmate Joel O'Keefe to be charged with attempted escape (September 6, 2000)
- Members of the public can tour new Five Points Correctional Facility Aug. 26 (August 15, 2000)
- Members of the public can tour Eastern Correctional Facility August 26 (August 14, 2000)
- New York state Correction Officer examination scheduled for November 18 (August 7, 2000)
- Inmates receiving Newjack following redactions to protect staff and inmates (July 25, 2000)
- Photos of June 29 employee memorial dedication ceremony (June 29, 2000)
- Correctional Services dedicates memorial to 32 who died in the line of duty (June 29, 2000)
- Auburn Correctional Facility locked down for facility-wide search (June 13, 2000)
- Inmate dies while working on church painting project (June 8, 2000)
- Correctional Services honors three employees; cites their valor, Governor's assistance (June 8, 2000)
- New York's aggressive prison TB care lauded by the Institute of Medicine (May 4, 2000)
- Goord lauds quick action, coordination by Attica CO's in defusing incident (April 18, 2000)
- Commissioner orders creation of statewide rules for employee shift swaps (April 12, 2000)
- Sing Sing Officer charged in planting of ammunition contributing to lock down (January 5, 2000)
- Attica today: In the forefront of national correctional policy (January 4, 2000)
- Prisons reduce extra staffing, slow facility operations (January 2, 2000)
- Prison system converts to Y2K compliance without incident (January 1, 2000)
1999
- Green Haven prison locked down, 40 inmates transferred (December 24, 1999)
- Needy New Yorkers getting a helping hand this holiday season (November 24, 1999)
- Green Haven lockdown continues after discovery of explosive containers (November 12, 1999)
- Commissioner Goord cites audit shortcomings; lauds crime-fighting successes of DOCS Inspector General (November 8, 1999)
- DOCS investigators played key role in breaking narcotics trafficking case (September 29, 1999)
- Elmira locked down to permit facility-wide frisk for contraband (September 28, 1999)
- Two Albion Correction Officers charged with inmate assault, misconduct (September 28, 1999)
- Inmate Arthur Shawcross receives two years SHU time for selling art items (September 17, 1999)
- DOCS suspends serial killer Arthur Shawcross' arts and crafts privileges (September 13, 1999)
- Correctional Services honors five employees; cites their valor, Governor's assistance (August 18, 1999)
- Inmate Ralph Tortorici hangs self in prison cell (August 10, 1999)
- DOCS begins phase-in of ban on indoor smoking in state prisons (July 20, 1999)
- Lockdown ends at Coxsackie Correctional Facility; 15 weapons recovered (July 14, 1999)
- Coxsackie locked down to permit facility-wide frisk for contraband (July 9, 1999)
- Upstate Correctional Facility opens with first round of inmate transfers (July 7, 1999)
- Downstate Correctional Facility inmate hangs self in cell (July 6, 1999)
- Annual Correction on Canvas Art Show opens April 12 (April 8, 1999)
- New York state Correction Officer examination scheduled for April 17 (January 19, 1999)
- New database systems providing public with vital information on criminals (January 11, 1999)
- Inmate 99-B-0067 (January 16, 1999)
1998
- Attica Correctional Facility inmate hangs self in cell (December 16, 1998)
- Attica inmate faces charges in attempted escape (November 2, 1998)
- Correctional Services honors employees; cites their bravery, Governor’s assistance (October 15, 1998)
- Prison community service crews assisting in storm cleanup (September 8, 1998)
- Prison HIV rate, deaths plummet as AIDS spending increases (August 18, 1998)
- New prison at Malone, formally named "Upstate," is 30 percent complete (August 13, 1998)
- Coxsackie locked down to permit facility-wide frisk for contraband (August 11, 1998)
- New maximum-security modular unit opens at Fishkill Correctional Facility (August 7, 1998)
- Most of Attica returns to normal, but slowed, operations (August 4, 1998)
- Oneida Correctional Facility inmate hangs self in cell (August 3, 1998)
- Department receives first death penalty inmate (July 22, 1998)
- Inmate facing charges after attack on Elmira Correction Officer (July 7, 1998)
- Police searching for inmate who escaped from Wyoming Hospital (July 4, 1998)
- New maximum-security modular unit opens at Mid-State Correctional Facility (June 25, 1998)
- DOCS opening eight maximum-security disciplinary housing units (May 27, 1998)
- Inmate who walked away from prison work crew recaptured (April 17, 1998)
- Inmate who walked away from prison work crew recaptured (April 16, 1998)
- Inmate walks away from Wyoming Correctional Facility work crew (April 15, 1998)
- Inmate walks away from Monterey Correctional Facility work crew (April 15, 1998)
- Eastern’s Braille transcription program begins third year of production (March 26, 1998)
- Crime victims to benefit from sale of inmate artwork (March 23, 1998)
- Two inmates charged with murder 2nd, robbery 1st in death of a third (March 17, 1998)
- Eight Correction Officers, Sergeant treated after scuffle with two inmates (March 12, 1998)
- Downstate Correctional facility locked down for facility-wide frisk (February 26, 1998)
- Fuel oil spill contained at Willard Drug Treatment Center (February 25, 1998)
1997
- Franklin inmate to face charges after C.O. taken hostage (November 20, 1997)
- Attica officer shoots, wounds inmate to stop attack (November 6, 1997)
- Inmate stabbed to death at Sing Sing Correctional Facility (November 5, 1997)
- Warning shot fired at Clinton Correctional Facility (October 30, 1997)
- Eastern Correctional Facility inmate hangs self in cell (October 29, 1997)
- Franklin Correctional Facility locked down to permit search for contraband (October 10, 1997)
- Commissioner seeks Adirondack Park Agency OK for Tupper Lake prison (October 9, 1997)
- Warning shot fired at Great Meadow Correctional Facility (October 8, 1997)
- Crime victims to benefit from sale of inmate artwork (October 6, 1997)
- Wende Correctional Facility locked down after inmate fight (October 3, 1997)
- Prison locked down after inmate stabs Officer (September 17, 1997)
- Commissioner Goord suspends 2 Officers following inmate escape from bus (July 31, 1997)
- Budget agreement OKs Governor’s plan for largest cell expansion in 70 years (July 30, 1997)
- Warning shot fired at Clinton Correctional Facility (July 25, 1997)
- Attica Correctional Facility inmate hangs self in cell (July 18, 1997)
- Mohawk Correctional Facility inmate hangs self in cell (July 17, 1997)
- Crime victims to benefit from sale of inmate artwork (April 7, 1997)
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