Bureau of Corrections

The Rensselaer County Correctional Facility at its current location opened in December of 1992. Between October 2009 and November 2011 approximately $35 million dollars were allocated to build today's new state-of-the-art structure. It is considered to be one of the premier jails in New York State with a total of 250,000 square feet. The facility includes twelve housing units with the capacity to house a total of 473 inmates.

Our Philosophy

The Rensselaer County Correctional Facility utilizes a direct supervision management style, a somewhat unique departure from traditional jails but one which has proven to be a safer method of managing inmate populations.

Our twelve housing pods are open, self-contained living units which house between 40 and 60 inmates. This architectural design enhances supervision, increases perimeter security and effectively divides inmates into manageable groups, resulting in an efficient, well-run, safe environment for the staff, inmates, visitors and the general community.

In addition to providing a safe structural environment Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office is a leader in providing full medical and mental health services to its inmates.

Overview

• Direct supervision management of inmates
• Housing pods dispense with traditional architectural designs and physical boundaries
• Pods consist of a population that ensures an atmosphere that promotes positive interaction- controlled by inmate ground rules and officer deployment
• A correctional officer works within each pod and is in direct control of the inmates housed therein
• This style provides a self-sufficient community which incorporates minimum, medium and maximum security levels all under one roof
• Inmates are classified upon intake to determine the level of supervision required
• Correctional staff provide full medical and mental health services needed for all inmates
• Those who are mentally ill, violent, or for any reason cannot follow the rules are placed in a more structured environment
• Resulting in a cleaner facility, virtually no assaults or vandalism, reduced stress on both staff and inmates and a safer environment for all