New York’s corrections chief says that the state will be gradually closing four more prisons, and the closings could save taxpayers $30 million. The state’s inmate total has reportedly dropped by nearly 20,000 over the past 15 years. People imprisoned on drug convictions have declined from 24,000 in 1996 to less than 6,700 at the end of last year. Closings are now scheduled to take place at a minimum security prison in Schuyler County, along with medium-security prisons in Wayne County, Franklin County, and Saratoga County, effective in July.
