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Q&A
Delay in opening the Bellevue therapeutic bed facility
0:52:06
·
54 sec
Council Member Lincoln Restler questions the Department of Corrections about the delay in opening the 104-bed therapeutic facility at Bellevue. The DOC representative, Alex Maldonado, explains that they are still working with the State Commission of Correction (SCOC) to gain approval for commissioning the facility as a jail.
- The facility has reached substantial completion but lacks final approval from SCOC
- DOC is unable to provide a specific timeline for when the facility will open
- Restler expresses frustration with the lack of progress and information from DOC
Lincoln Restler
0:52:06
Thank you very much.
0:52:08
Thank you to the chairs and to the department corrections for joining us today.
0:52:12
I wanted to first ask about the therapeutic beds.
0:52:15
So we've had a hundred and four beds completed at Bellevue.
0:52:18
The work is all done, ready, waiting, mothballed because the Department of Corrections refuses to staff the facility.
0:52:24
When will the Department of Corrections be opening this facility?
0:52:27
Date, please.
Alex Maldonado
0:52:28
Good morning, sir.
0:52:29
We don't have a date right now.
0:52:30
We are still working towards state commissioning with the state commission of correction.
Lincoln Restler
0:52:35
You're waiting on SCOC approval?
Alex Maldonado
0:52:36
We are working with the state to gain approval so that we can commission this as a jail facility.
Lincoln Restler
0:52:41
So we've the work has been completed for many months.
0:52:45
We've been waiting and waiting, years delayed to get this open.
0:52:49
Correctional health services is pointing the finger squarely at you all.
0:52:54
Why has this not gotten done?
Alex Maldonado
0:52:56
There has been some, I think, misunderstanding and miscommunication about this issue.