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Commission of Correction considers temporary variance to allow double‑celling at Niagara County Jail
Summary
A staff presenter told the Commission the jail is at about 96% capacity and recommended a roughly six‑month variance to double‑cell pods in Building 2; a commissioner asked that approval be limited to three months with a review. The transcript does not specify the final public vote tally for this item.
On March 26 the Commission of Correction considered a variance request from Niagara County Jail to permit double‑celling in Building 2, pods 1–4, amid near‑capacity conditions.
A staff member said the request came from Chief Anthony Seuss of Niagara County Jail and recommended temporary approval. "We are recommending approval for this variance for approximately 6 months," the staff member said. The presenter reported the facility was at about 96% capacity, listing a population of 432 against an MSC of 447 and noting roughly 30 state‑readies with an additional five state‑readies pending.
A commissioner proposed shortening the staff recommendation to a three‑month approval with a three‑month review, saying the state‑ready issue required an earlier reassessment: "I would recommend that we only approve this for 3 months after review." The chair solicited questions; a motion and a second were recorded on the variance request and members were asked "all in favor," but the public transcript provided does not include a named vote tally or a detailed public record of the commission's final disposition for this specific variance request.
The item will return for further oversight as required by the commission's review schedule or based on the state‑ready population.
