State OKs waivers for extra Suffolk inmates

The State Commission on Corrections Wednesday voted to reinstate Suffolk's waivers to house extra inmates -- saving $3 million this year -- if the county can prove it can successfully evacuate prisoners from a bubble detention site in Yaphank.

The commission made the restoration of variances contingent on Suffolk holding a successful evacuation drill in Yaphank Thursday -- overseen by a state official -- to show that inmates can be safely moved in an emergency.

County officials expressed confidence the drill will succeed. "It's a great early success for us. It prevents us from digging the hole any deeper," said County Executive Steve Bellone. "It reflects how we're going to do business -- working to re-establish relationships, and work behind the scenes to save money for taxpayers."

Jessica Scaperotti, commission spokeswoman, said the commission voted unanimously to restore Suffolk's full variances after the county "submitted a significantly updated facility evaluation plan that addressed the concerns expressed by the commission when it took action in September."

The state revoked variances for 128 of the 511 extra prisoners -- now housed in Suffolk in excess of state rules -- "subsequent to the county's inability to properly evacuate" 120 prisoners at the bubble, or fabric and metal-framed temporary building, detention site before Hurricane Irene. The state ordered the county to move inmates to Nassau County and Rikers Island before the storm, but DeMarco said he could not get prisoners there before Nassau and the city stopped accepting inmates so they could prepare for the storm themselves. Instead, DeMarco moved prisoners to jail space in Riverhead and in Yaphank.

The loss of the variance has forced the county to move about 128 prisoners of the county's 1,754 prisoners to jails outside Suffolk at a cost of $15,000 a day or $500,000 a month. In all, the state has given the county waivers to house 511 extra prisoners -- through double bunking and using common areas.

The state has granted the waivers, recognizing that Suffolk is finishing construction on a costly new $156 million jail in Yaphank to house 440 prisoners, scheduled to begin opening by June. DeMarco estimates the restoration of the variances will save the county more than $3 million by the time the county can begin to move prisoners into the new jail.

Jon Schneider, a Bellone spokesman, said Bellone initiated talks even before taking office during the transition, holding a video conference with Larry Schwartz, a top aide to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo prior to Christmas.

Since then, the Bellone and DeMarco have been talking to commission staff. "I don't think it was a political decision," said Schneider. "The county executive just set out to negotiate and determine what needed to be done rather than hold press conferences or write blistering letters."

DeMarco said the evacuation drill will begin about 10 a.m. with at least half the 120 prisoners at the bubble facility being moved to courthouse detention cells in Riverhead and Central Islip. If all goes well, DeMarco hopes to move inmates back by the weekend.