Mid-State Correctional Facility
Encyclopedia
Mid-State Correctional Facility is located between the cities of Rome
and Utica
in New York State.
Before Mid-State was a prison
, it was a hospital for both the mentally ill and mentally handicapped. There was a so called “25-year building spree” in the prison system, when the number of prisoners dramatically increased. This was when Mid-State opened in 1983.
Mid-State has grown and now includes maximum security blocks. These blocks are called "S" blocks, and consist of prisoners living in little box-shaped rooms. These prisoners are let out for only one hour during the day, and remain isolated for the remaining 23. The place where they are allowed to go outside mimics their room except that it is outside, and surrounded by a fence. Even though Mid-State has a maximum security building it is still considered to only be a medium security prison. Mid-State cleared the way for its neighbor, Marcy Correctional Facility
located across the street, and two others the Oneida Correctional Facility and Mohawk Correctional Facility. Some of the buildings at Mid-State date back 70 years.
. Mid-State consists of over 1000 acres (4 km²) of land, with buildings dating back to the 1920s. Among the older buildings, there are many new and improved facilities as well. The structures of the new buildings maintain the same look as the original, consisting of red brick. There are two new buildings, the medical building and the "S" block, which is the only maximum security part of the prison. There is also a large recreation yard that has a racquetball court, basketball court, football field, and also a gym, which the prison
ers use the most. In addition to the outdoor area there are many other things to keep up around the prison, and it is the inmate’s responsibility to take care of and maintain them all. For the good prisoners and the ones who are only in for a short time, they are taken out on a prison bus around Oneida County
. They help clean up the city and surrounding areas by picking up garbage along the sides of the roads, mowing church lawns, and helping with other outdoor maintenance
.
Driving to Mid-State one enters a long line of trees on both sides of the entrance road. There are also underground tunnels that were once used to transport difficult patients. They are no longer used today. Recently in the news there will be 300 dangerous sex offenders of New York transported into the Central New York Psychiatric Center and Mid-State by 2008, as Mid-State is now a level one maximum facility.
Rome, New York
Rome is a city in Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located in north-central or "upstate" New York. The population was 44,797 at the 2010 census. It is in New York's 24th congressional district. In 1758, British forces began construction of Fort Stanwix at this strategic location, but...
and Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
in New York State.
Before Mid-State was a prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
, it was a hospital for both the mentally ill and mentally handicapped. There was a so called “25-year building spree” in the prison system, when the number of prisoners dramatically increased. This was when Mid-State opened in 1983.
Mid-State has grown and now includes maximum security blocks. These blocks are called "S" blocks, and consist of prisoners living in little box-shaped rooms. These prisoners are let out for only one hour during the day, and remain isolated for the remaining 23. The place where they are allowed to go outside mimics their room except that it is outside, and surrounded by a fence. Even though Mid-State has a maximum security building it is still considered to only be a medium security prison. Mid-State cleared the way for its neighbor, Marcy Correctional Facility
Marcy Correctional Facility
Marcy Correctional Facility is located in Marcy, New York, USA; it is a medium security prison in Oneida County, New York.The prison is co-located with the "Central New York Psychiatric Center", where incarcerated prisoners from state and local jurisdictions can be held and treated, and the...
located across the street, and two others the Oneida Correctional Facility and Mohawk Correctional Facility. Some of the buildings at Mid-State date back 70 years.
Phase One
During the first phase of the prison, Mid-State shared its place with a hospital that took care of the criminally insane. The hospital was known as the Central New York Psychiatric Center.Phase Two
The second phase took place in 1986. This increased the size of the site that the hospital and Mid-State had to share. Eventually the whole site was left to Mid-State and the Central New York Psychiatric Center. Since 1983 there have not been any escapes or other troublesome incidents. There are 87100 feet (26,548.1 m) of coiled razor sharp wire to prevent prisoners from escaping.Mid-State today
Mid-State has provided many jobs to people in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Mid-State consists of over 1000 acres (4 km²) of land, with buildings dating back to the 1920s. Among the older buildings, there are many new and improved facilities as well. The structures of the new buildings maintain the same look as the original, consisting of red brick. There are two new buildings, the medical building and the "S" block, which is the only maximum security part of the prison. There is also a large recreation yard that has a racquetball court, basketball court, football field, and also a gym, which the prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
ers use the most. In addition to the outdoor area there are many other things to keep up around the prison, and it is the inmate’s responsibility to take care of and maintain them all. For the good prisoners and the ones who are only in for a short time, they are taken out on a prison bus around Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
. They help clean up the city and surrounding areas by picking up garbage along the sides of the roads, mowing church lawns, and helping with other outdoor maintenance
Maintenance, Repair and Operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
.
Driving to Mid-State one enters a long line of trees on both sides of the entrance road. There are also underground tunnels that were once used to transport difficult patients. They are no longer used today. Recently in the news there will be 300 dangerous sex offenders of New York transported into the Central New York Psychiatric Center and Mid-State by 2008, as Mid-State is now a level one maximum facility.
Notable prisoners
- Gerald Garson, former New York Supreme Court Justice, convicted of accepting bribes
- CormegaCormegaCory Mckay , better known as Cormega, is an American emcee best known for his vivid and poignant narratives about inner-city life.- Early life :...
, hip-hop artist - ProdigyProdigy (rapper)Lance Albert Johnson Banks, better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and one half of the hip-hop and rap duo Mobb Deep....
, hip-hop artist - Dennis KozlowskiDennis KozlowskiLeonard Dennis Kozlowski is a former CEO of Tyco International, convicted in 2005 of crimes related to his receipt of $81 million in purportedly unauthorized bonuses, the purchase of art for $14.725 million and the payment by Tyco of a $20 million investment banking fee to Frank Walsh, a former...
, former CEO of Tyco InternationalTyco InternationalTyco International Ltd. is a highly diversified global manufacturing company incorporated in Switzerland, with United States operational headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey... - Alan HevesiAlan HevesiAlan G. Hevesi is a Democratic politician whoserved as a New York State Assemblyman from 1971 to 1993, as Comptroller of the City of New York from 1994 to 2001, and as State Comptroller for the State of New York from 2003 to 2006...
, former Comptroller of the State of New York, convicted of taking bribes in return for investing in firms for the New York State Retirement Fund - Jeffrey "Ja Rule" Atkins (rapper), Hip-Hop rapper, singer, and actor that has sold over 40 million records worldwide.Conviction Story: In July 2007, Ja Rule was arrested for gun and drug possession charges along with Lil Wayne, and Don Rhys who served eight months in prison during 2010 for attempted possession of a weapon stemming from the arrest.[27][28][29] New York Supreme Court judge Richard Carruthers rejected Ja Rule's argument that the gun was illegally obtained evidence.[30][31] On December 13, 2010, Ja Rule received a two-year jail sentence after pleading guilty to attempted possession of a weapon after the aforementioned 2007 concert. On March 8, 2011 Ja Rule's surrender date for his two year prison sentence was set for June 8.[32] His publicist said that Ja Rule will turn himself into authorities. He will go to Rikers Island first, then be sent to a state facility in Upstate New York.[33] In July 2011, Ja Rule received an additional 28-month prison sentence for tax evasion, failing to pay taxes on more than $3 million in earnings between 2004–2006.