Clinton Correctional Facility

Clinton Correctional Facility is a maximum-security facility that houses adult male inmates and is located in Dannemora, New York. It is operated by the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and can house approximately 3,000 inmates, making it the largest correctional facility in the state.

This facility was built in 1844 and has been added to and remodeled multiple times over the years. The 60-foot walls built in 1887 still stand, and in 1889 a mental health facility known as the Dannemora State Hospital was built on prison grounds. It was eventually closed and converted into an annex to house more inmates.

The Church of St. Dismas, the Good Thief was built by inmates between 1939 to 1941 and is located inside prison walls. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 as a significant structure.

Clinton Correctional Facility is often referred to as New York’s Little Siberia because of its isolation in upstate New York and the notorious cold winters.

Before the state repealed the death penalty in 2008, New York’s male death row was housed at this facility.

On June 6, 2015, inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat, both serving sentences for murder, escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility. Two prison employees, Joyce Mitchell and Gene Palmer, were charged with aiding the escape. 

During the search, on June 26, Matt was shot and killed by a border patrol agent in the town of Malone, New York. Two days later, Sweat was shot by a New York State Trooper and captured. Some of the prisoners reported that they were beaten by guards in an attempt to obtain information as to the whereabouts and plans of Matt and Sweat.

Notable inmates at Clinton Correctional Facility include:

Robert Chambers: the "preppy murderer," who served the majority of his sentence at Clinton Correctional Facility for the manslaughter conviction of Jennifer Levin, as well as a later sentence for drug possession after heroin was found in his cell.

Jesse Friedman: One of the subjects of the 2003 documentary film Capturing the Friedmans who pleaded guilty to sodomy and sexual abuse charges related to child molestation in the 1980s.

Charles "Lucky" Luciano: One of the main power players who developed Italian organized crime in the United States, Luciano served 10 years of a 30- to 50-year sentence for running a prostitution ring before he was deported to Italy after World War II.

Ol' Dirty Bastard (real name Russell Tyrone Jones): Member of the rap group Wu Tang Clan who served nearly 17 months on a criminal possession of a controlled substance conviction in 2001 and 2002.

Tupac Shakur served eight months at Clinton on a sexual abuse conviction from February to October 1995 before being released on appeal.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at Clinton Correctional Facility are seven days a week (including holidays) from 8:30AM to 3:00PM. 

Special Housing Unit Visiting Days & Hours (Inmates in SHU custody are allowed one non-legal visit within a seven day period) are from 8:30AM to 2:30PM Sunday through Saturday.

SHU/APPU/SNU/ IPC/VPC visiting hours are from 8:30AM to 2:30PM (Latest arrival 2PM).

For more visiting information, click here.

Visitor Checklist

The following is a checklist to ensure you are prepared for the visit:

• Confirm that the offender has not been transferred and has visitation privileges.
• Bring valid photo identification.
• If you have made special arrangements with the facility, call before leaving to ensure that plans for your visit have been made and are in place.
• Check clothing and jewelry for compliance with visiting regulations.
• If you are bringing a child and you are not the legal guardian or parent, be sure you have a notarized statement from the child’s parent or legal guardian.

• Before leaving home, check your vehicle for contraband and/or hazardous items and be sure to remove these items before entering correctional facility grounds. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • implements of escape
  • drug paraphernalia
  • intoxicants
  • poisons
  • items posing a danger to others
  • weapons, such as knives, scissors, or firearms
  • items used to show a gang affiliation
• Arrive on the designated day during proper visiting hours.
• Leave purses, wallets, and electronic devices in the glove compartment or in the trunk of your car. Be sure to lock your car!
• Do not leave minor children waiting in the car or your visit will be ended.
• Do not have any contraband on you when you enter the facility.
• Treat correctional staff with respect.
• Do not bring anything into the visiting room to give to the offender. Offenders are not permitted to take anything from the visiting area.

Dress Code

Visitors should wear clothing that is appropriate in a family atmosphere, including complete attire with appropriate undergarments, comfortable footwear (bare feet are not allowed) and weather appropriate attire when necessary.

Inappropriate clothing will result in you being denied entry. Please be sure to understand the dress code for visitors. It is smart to bring a change of clothing with you if you have any doubts about the clothes you are wearing.

For a detailed dress code, click here.

All inmate mail must be clearly marked with the offender’s name and Department Identification Number (DIN), and the sender's return address in the left top corner of the envelope. Envelopes may include personal letters and photographs.

Do not send:

• nude photographs
• Polaroid photos
• postage stamps
• letters from other people, except children

A limit of five pages of printed or photocopied materials may be received within a piece of regular correspondence. An individual newspaper clipping will be considered one page. Do not tape, glue, or paste clipping or pages together or to other pages.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Clinton Correctional Facility can’t receive incoming calls, but they do have access to phones during daytime hours for outgoing calls. For complete details on how to call an inmate in New York, please click here.

How to Send Money

Programs For Inmates

DOCCS offers an extensive array of programs and services for incarcerated individuals to assist them in redirecting their lives and becoming productive, law-abiding members of society.

Adult Basic Education

The Adult Basic Education Program provides individualized instruction. This is provided to meet the needs of incarcerated individuals who have reading and math scores below the sixth grade level on the Department's selected standardized test in reading, mathematics, and language arts in the context of real life adult problems and situations.

The goal of this program is to provide individuals with skills or competencies necessary to function successfully in contemporary society and to enable the participant to function at the sixth grade reading and mathematics level.

Barbering

The Barbering course covers the basic services provided by the barber trade. The student studies hair cutting, shaving, massaging, facials, scalp treatments, and styling.

The goal of the Barbering course is to train students in the barbering trade and prepare them to take the Barber license exam. 

The course is self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules. Instructions in the required hours are needed to apply to take the New York State Barber license exam.

Building Maintenance

The Building Maintenance program provides students with fundamental skills required to make minor repairs in carpentry, masonry, electricity, plumbing, and weatherization. This course prepares the student with entry-level skills as a building superintendent.

This program is self-paced individualized instruction to assist students in developing competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

Computer Operator

This course introduces students to the hardware and software components of computers. The main focus of the program is the operation of software, which includes word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentations.

The goal of the Computer Operator course is to provide students with entry level skills to operate computers and work with software programs. Coding for web design is offered to advanced students. This is self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications in Excel, PowerPoint, and word processing from Certiport; Internet and Computing Core certification (IC3) from Certiport; and Web Design Specialist certification from Computer Visions, Inc. is available.

Custodial Maintenance

The Custodial Maintenance Course emphasizes custodial services, including floor care, carpet and fabric care, upholstery care, window care, restroom care, and the safe use and operation of power cleaning equipment and sanitation chemicals.

The goal of this course is to provide students with competencies in entry level skills in commercial, institutional and industrial cleaning and maintenance. This is self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

Basic and Advanced Custodial Technician certifications, NCCER core training program certification, and New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship program are also available.

Electrical Trades

This course provides instruction in basic electricity with emphasis on installing and servicing of all types of residential and commercial wiring systems. Skills taught include code interpretation, installation and servicing of circuits and controls, use of testing equipment, reading of architectural drawings, and wiring schematics.

The goal of the Electrical Trades course is to provide students with entry level skills as an apprentice or electrician's helper. This is self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

The New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program and NCCER Electrical certification training program are also available.

Floor Covering

The Floor Covering Course covers the installation of most floor covering materials including types of carpeting, floor tile, sheet goods, wall tile, and quarry slate. Students learn layout and measurement, floor preparation, maintenance and repair, and job estimation.

The goal of this course is to provide students with entry level skills which will enable them to be employed as a Floor Covering Mechanic. It offers self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills.

A New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program and NCCER Core Certification Training Program are available.

General Business

The General Business course provides students with instruction on using computers, calculators, and printers. Students become familiar with software applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, and desktop publishing. In addition, instruction is offered in filing, mailing procedures, bookkeeping, and business correspondence.

The goal of the course is to prepare students to work in a business office. It provides self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

IC3 Digital Literacy Certification from Certiport and Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications in Excel, PowerPoint, and word processing from Certiport are available.

Horticulture

Horticulture refers to the production, care, management, and marketing of plants such as flowers, shrubs, trees, bulbs, and turf. Training includes instruction and practice in techniques and methods of plant propagation, transplanting, pruning, cultivation, fertilization, and greenhouse production, as well as plant identification and insect control.

Students learn basic landscape design through the use of brick, stone, and wood in the construction of walks, walls, and fences as well as the construction of new lawns, mowing, fertilization, and insect and disease control. Instruction is given in operating various horticulture hand and power equipment, such as mowers, tractors, rototillers, and other garden tools.

The goal of the Horticulture course is to provide a student with entry level skills to be employable as Horticulturist or Groundskeeper. It offers self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

Masonry

Students in masonry are taught the fundamentals of wall construction, mixing mortar, learning to work with brick, cinderblock, cement blocks and concrete. Students must also learn blueprint reading and trade mathematics.

The goal of the Mason Shop course is to provide students with entry-level skills as a bricklayer or a mason. Self-paced individualized instruction is provided to develop student competencies in entry-level skills as defined by modules.

New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program and NCCER Masonry Certification Training Program are available.

Network Program

The Network Program is designed to promote the positive involvement of participants in an environment that focuses on their successful community reentry. The goal of this program is to assist individuals in learning cooperative work and leadership skills, while demonstrating responsible behaviors before returning home.

The program is open to all individuals willing to abide by both Department and Network rules. Admission is strictly voluntary.

Assessment includes:

• Group participation: Individuals are expected to participate in all assigned group activities; a
• Attendance: Participants are expected to attend all programs as prescribed.
• Assignments/Rules: Participants are expected to complete all assignments and to adhere to Department and Network rules.

Painting and Decorating

Students in this program learn techniques of paint application to both interior and exterior surfaces. Skills taught relate to preparation of the surface, and application of stains, clear finishes and pigmented paint. Students learn techniques of wallpapering, and wood refinishing. Instruction is given in safety procedures in handling paints, ladders, and scaffolding.

The goal of this course is to provide students with entry level skills as a painter or painter's helper. It offers self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

A New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program and NCCER Painting Certification Training Program are available.

Printing

The Printing Course is an extensive program teaching a variety of techniques ranging from bookbinding, typesetting, and lithography (offset press work).

The goal of this course is to provide students with entry level skills that will enable them to secure employment in the printing trade. It offers self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

A New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program is available.

Aggression Replacement Training (ART)

A cognitive behavioral intervention program designed to assist individuals in improving social skills, moral reasoning, coping with and reducing aggressive behavior through the use of self regulating exercises and mindfulness.

ART consists of three coordinated interventions: anger control training, structured learning, and moral reasoning. The program consists of five modules with 32 sessions.

Participants will learn to understand what causes them to feel angry and act aggressively, as well as techniques to reduce anger/aggressive behavior, self-regulate to stop "automatic" aggression, and to build skills that help make better choices.

Individuals who are assessed as having the need for ART are assigned to the program by the facility Program Committee.

Family Reunion Program

The Family Reunion Program (FRP) provides approved incarcerated individuals and their families the opportunity to meet for a designated period of time in a private home-like setting.

The goals of the program include:

• Preserving and strengthening family ties that have been disrupted as a result of incarceration.
• Fostering positive and responsible conduct.
• Facilitating post-release reintegration into the family and community, thereby reducing the likelihood of recidivism.

Garment Shop

The Garment Shop instructs participants in the use of sewing machines in the fabrication of garments. Garments produced are underclothing, shirts, trousers, and other articles. The participants learn to read manuals related to the use of sewing machines, and are required to repair the equipment used.

Students are provided an opportunity to acquire job skills and acceptable work habits by participating in a production oriented environment, operating equipment, and meeting production schedules and quality standards. Efficiency and quality are stressed in all shops.

High school diploma or equivalency is required to be admitted.

Incarcerated Veterans Program

The Incarcerated Veterans Program is designed to address the readjustment and reentry needs of veterans returning to society following a period of incarceration. 

Level I

All correctional facilities provide Level I services ensuring that veterans obtain a copy of their DD214 Military Discharge papers and that appropriate referrals are made through the Veterans Administration (VA) for ongoing treatment, vocational training, education, housing, and employment when the veteran is released from incarceration. 

Level II

In addition to the Level 1 services provided, Clinton is a Level II facility that also has a Veterans Inmate Organization or a Veterans Educational Group that meets on a regular basis providing education, camaraderie and support to each other. There is often a community group involved, such as an American Legion or a VFW Post. They often hold a Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony and Banquet to honor their service to their country.

Sex Offender Counseling and Treatment Program (SOCTP)

The Sex Offender Counseling and Treatment Program (SOCTP) is a comprehensive program of counseling and treatment offered by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for convicted sex offenders and other offenders the Department identifies as likely to benefit from sex offender counseling and treatment based upon a study of their background.

The SOCTP is offered to those who have been identified as low, moderate/high, and high risk to reoffend. Offenders are assigned a risk level for treatment using a comprehensive process that utilizes both actuarial tools and clinical assessment.

Once an offender is placed in the program, an individualized treatment plan will be created based on the participant's static and dynamic risk factors that will guide the offender’s treatment. Within the moderate/high risk program, the duration of services delivered is based upon the assessed risk factors of the individual participant.

The length of the program is as follows:
Low Risk: 6 months
Moderate/High Risk: 9–12 months
High Risk: 15–18 months

Pictures of Clinton Correctional Facility

Careers at Clinton Correctional Facility

If you are interested in a career with the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and would like to work at the Clinton Correctional Facility, you can find out more information by clicking here.