Niantic Correctional Facility Closing Jan. 9

Due to the continuing decline in the state’s prison population, the Connecticut Department of Correction is closing the Niantic Annex at the York Correctional Institution, effective January 9, Governor Dannel P. Malloy said in a Jan. 6 prepared statement.

The closure will save taxpayers approximately $7.6 million per fiscal year. The annex is located at 201 West Main St., Niantic.

“With crime at a 48-year low — dropping significantly each year — and recidivism down dramatically, the DOC currently has enough empty beds to relocate the offenders who are currently located in the Niantic Annex to other facilities within the state,” according to Malloy.

‘Saving Taxpayer Dollars While Being Right Thing to Do’

“We are doing critical work with Second Chance Society, innovating like never before and being smart — not just tough — in our approach,” Malloy said. “Crime is down to a nearly 50-year low. Our prison population is dropping. Recidivism has been lowered. And all of that means that we can be strategic with our resources.”

Opened in 2011, the Niantic Annex began housing inmates from the J.B. Gates Correctional Institution, which was closed that same year. At its peak, the Niantic Annex temporarily housed as many as 585 inmates. It currently houses 44.

“We are making real progress in Connecticut to change lives and break that cycle of poverty, crime and prison that has impacted far too many people,” Malloy said. “Violent criminals are serving longer sentences, while we’re tailoring our approach with non-violent offenders. This closing is a reflection of a paradigmatic change in approach from policies that simply didn’t work in the past. It’s going to save taxpayer dollars — and it’s the right thing to do.”

As of January 5, 2016, the total inmate population was 15,580. The population is down more than 600 offenders from just the same time last year — a dramatic drop, he said.

“The current inmate population is substantially below the all-time high of 19,894 in 2008,” Malloy said.

DOC Commissioner Scott Semple said he is confident the downward trend in the prison population will continue.

“The agency will continue to work with Governor Malloy, state legislators, and key stakeholders to help support successful reintegration of offenders back into their communities — resulting in not only safer communities, but further savings of taxpayer dollars,” he said.

Less New Admissions to Prison System

The number of new admissions to prison has dropped 25-percent since 2009, according to the Jan. 6 statement. In 2015, there were 1,429 fewer new admissions to prison than 2014, a drop of 6-percent in one year. Today’s pre-trial population is down 3-percent compared to one year ago.

Malloy said the DOC has already taken steps to improve offender reentry, including a streamlined centralized release unit, as well as the opening of the Cybulski Community Reintegration Center — a recently rededicated 600-bed facility which specializes in preparing offenders for reentry.

The Department of Correction previously closed the Webster Correctional Institution in Cheshire in January 2010, the Gates Correctional Institution in Niantic in June 2011, the Bergin Correctional Institution in Storrs in August 2011, and most recently the Fairmount Building at Bridgeport Correctional Center in July 2015.

(Photo: State of CT)