Published: 12:00 a.m., Saturday, December 18, 2010 in the Albany Times Union

Robert Gangi's misguided Dec. 7 commentary, "Liberate N.Y. from its prisons," continues an argument based on half-truths and offers dangerous solutions.

Mr. Gangi is right: We have seen a reduction in inmates. However, what is also true is that our maximum-security prisons remain at 122 percent of capacity and our overall population remains at 100 percent. Now the short-term, emergency conditions such as "double-bunking", where two inmates are placed in a space designed for one, is no longer short-term, but a permanent and extremely dangerous condition.

What is worse, we are now housing a more violent and dangerous inmate at our medium- and maximum-security facilities. As a result, inmate-on-inmate assaults are up significantly. In fact, last year there were 602 assaults recorded. So far this year, we have already seen 628. In addition, inmate suicides have doubled since last year. These are very alarming statistics and trends.

But there is a solution. Rather than closing the underutilized medium-security prisons, we need to transition them to house the overflowing maximum-security inmates. If we can "right-size" our prisons, we will not only make them safer and more efficient, but we also can save the state money.

Mr. Gangi is right in the sense that the reduced inmate populations offer an opportunity, but instead of attacking the men and women who work in these prisons, Mr. Gangi needs to look at the big picture and better understand the challenges and opportunities that today's prison population offers. There are real solutions that will not only save money for our state, but more importantly, save lives.

DONN ROWE

President, New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association