Ever wanted to go behind the scenes of a nearly 100-year-old prison? A comprehensive report issued by the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) gives the public a view inside the walls of the medium-security Wallkill Correctional Facility, raising causes for concern. Challenging conditions, chronic understaffing and security issues were flagged in the document. Its release comes in the wake of a statewide prison worker strike that ended last month when over 2,000 employees were fired.
The report is based on a February 2024 monitoring visit to the prison complex, but was not released until March of 2025. As such, it provides insight into the conditions which led to the worker strike.
One of the most pressing concerns reported was persistent understaffing. Officers were stretched thin, leading to excessive overtime and increased burnout. Lack of adequate staffing was found to create a cascade of problems throughout the complex.
While the report cited a low level of prisoner abuse at the facility, possible issues with discipline were found. “The proportion of respondents at Wallkill who reported being subjected to the disciplinary process is higher than most prisons in the sample,” it read. “Most respondents believed the disciplinary system was unfair.”
The report also found potential issues “related to the condition and accessibility of the facility’s bathrooms; broken or inoperable windows; and some distrust of the facility’s drinking water.”
Though most inmates reported getting the medical attention they needed, concerns remained. With no on-site pharmacy, nearly half of inmates reported issues with receiving their prescribed medications. Though the prison has a full health staff, complaints were lodged regarding inadequate communication about test results and long waits for specialty care.
Food was also a consistent complaint, with several inmates complaining about the overuse of soy in their diets. “Trash — I would rather starve than eat it,” said one prisoner.
Despite the troubling findings, the report also highlights the dedication of many staff members who continue to work under difficult circumstances. In some areas, relationships between staff and prisoners were found to be better in comparison to other New York prisons that were monitored. But in absolute terms, 30% of respondents reported seeing or experiencing abuse. Some inmates reported abusive “goon squads” that allegedly pick on prisoners.
CANY also addressed the state of law enforcement employees working in the facility, which raised its own concerns:
“Security staff reported their impressions that the quality of life for officers is worse now than it was in the past”,” it read. “They also asserted that, because of 16-hour shifts, the divorce rate among correction officers is ‘off the charts’ because of the impact of long and unpredictable hours on family life.”
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