Legislators voted for “virtual prison break” and sealing criminal records of drug felons enabling them to work unchecked in day care centers, nursing homes, schools and banks

A North Country prison will officially go into final lockdown and close forever on July 1st  -- a move supported by Assemblywoman Addie Russell (D-118th A.D.) in her ‘yes’ vote for this year’s state budget.

Camp Gabriels in Franklin County became a victim of state budget cuts to public safety programs made by Russell (A.150-C and A.156-B).  The camp was a minimum security correctional facility employing 82 uniformed positions. 

It’s estimated that closures of Camps Gabriels, Mt. McGregor (in Saratoga County), and Pharsalia (in Chenango County) will result in the elimination of approximately 233 staff positions. 

This comes on the heels of a loophole in the Rockefeller drug law (A.156-B) passed by Russell that now allows criminals convicted of crimes ranging from petit larceny to drug trafficking to get their records sealed. This means a day care provider, nursing home, school district or other employer would not have access to the criminal convictions of potential employees when doing a background check.

“These misguided votes by Assemblywoman Russell are tantamount to a virtual prison break,” said Kathleen Hennessey, Spokeswoman for the New York Republican Assembly Campaign Committee (RACC). 

“The last thing we should be doing is skimping on public safety and putting New Yorkers in jeopardy,” concluded Hennessey.