How Not to Close a Jail
A surprise plan to shutter a jail in Syracuse’s Onondaga County spurred a chaotic political skirmish — and left local incarcerated people in the lurch.
This story was published in partnership with Central Current, a nonprofit newsroom covering Central New York. Sign up for their newsletter here.
This investigation was supported with funding from the Data-Driven Reporting Project. The Data-Driven Reporting Project is funded by the Google News Initiative in partnership with Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
This story was published in partnership with Central Current, a nonprofit newsroom covering Central New York. Sign up for their newsletter here.
This investigation was supported with funding from the Data-Driven Reporting Project. The Data-Driven Reporting Project is funded by the Google News Initiative in partnership with Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
There have been at least six deaths at the Justice Center over the past two years — nearly six times Rikers Island’s death rate.
“It’s a dumb idea.”
New York Focus obtained SCOC reports from Onondaga County via a Freedom of Information Law appeal. Known as "minimum standards evaluations," the reports are the main mechanism by which SCOC reviews jails' compliance with state corrections regulations.
The reports, spanning 2019 to 2023, can be read in full here.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about.”
Eliza Fawcett contributed research.
Great Meadow and Sullivan prisons are slated to shut down in November. The state could close up to three more over the next year.
More counties are turning to private corporations to run medical care in jails. The companies have deadly track records.
Joseph Moran has long faced accusations of dishonesty — even from fellow officers — records show.
Hundreds of Child Victims Act cases have been filed against New York schools, some over accused serial offenders that could leave districts with tens of millions of dollars in liability.
New York’s consumer advocacy groups struggle to compete with well-funded utilities and corporations. Lawmakers want to level the playing field.
There are at least three ways a Trump administration could try to stop the transit-funding toll.