Rochester Correctional Facility

Rochester Correctional Facility, located on Ford Street in Rochester, New York, was a minimum-security work release center with a capacity to accommodate 70 inmates. Prior to its closure, it housed 46 individuals and employed approximately 26 staff members. The facility was shuttered in March 2022, part of a broader initiative by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to address declining inmate populations and implement criminal justice reforms.

As a minimum-security institution, Rochester Correctional Facility primarily focused on work release programs, aiding in the transition of inmates back into society by providing them with opportunities to engage in employment outside the prison walls. This approach was designed to reduce recidivism and support rehabilitation efforts.

The facility’s closure was announced as part of New York State’s 2021-22 fiscal year budget, which authorized the shutdown of several correctional facilities to optimize resources and better align with the decreasing number of incarcerated individuals. The decision reflected the state’s evolving stance on criminal justice, emphasizing rehabilitation over incarceration.

The closure impacted the local community and staff, prompting the relocation of inmates to other facilities, notably in Orleans County. Staff members were offered voluntary transfers, mitigating the risk of layoffs.

Rochester Correctional Facility’s closure is emblematic of a larger trend in New York, where numerous facilities have been closed over recent years as part of efforts to refine the state’s correctional system. This shift is driven by policy changes, such as the HALT Act and “Less is More” legislation, designed to reduce incarceration rates and foster safer, more effective rehabilitation environments.