Since last Tuesday, the Elmira Correctional facility has been in lockdown. The union representing corrections officers and sergeants working there asked for the lockdown to protect its members safety after a total of 19 incidents in the first 24 days of the January. These included inmates assaulting other inmates and the discovery of contraband, including weapons, at the prison. It’s the second time the Correctional facility has been under lockdown in the past four months. During the lockdown, eight weapons have been found on inmates and a large number were also found in common areas. The union blames the problems on state budget cuts and the closing of other prisons, which it said have resulted in overcrowding conditions.
