Gowanda Correctional Facility

Gowanda Correctional Facility is a medium-security facility for adult male inmates that is located in Gowanda, New York. This facility can house approximately 2,300 inmates and is operated by the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

Gowanda is located next to Collins Correctional Facility, and it has the most inmate grievances filed by inmates in a medium-security prison in the entire state of New York. Inmates have reported officer abuse and made accusations that they routinely destroy personal property.

In 2014, a guard the inmates called “the devil” for his cruelty and constant harassment was beaten unconscious during an incident where nine inmates attacked three officers. 

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours for the general population at Gowanda Correctional Facility are between 7:30AM to 2:00PM on weekends and Holidays. The Latest Arrival Time for a visit is 1:30PM.

Special Housing Unit Visiting Days & Hours (Inmates in SHU custody are allowed one non-legal visit within a seven day period): 7:30AM to 2:00PM Weekends and Holidays; Latest Arrival Time 1:30PM

SHU/Long-term Keeplock Schedule: Sunday through Saturday

A maximum number of three visitors are allowed to visit an inmate at once. For more detailed visiting information, click here.

Visit Checklist

This visit checklist helps you to prepare for your visit with an inmate:

• 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 the dress code.
• 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.
• 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 your inmate. They are not allowed to take anything from the visiting area.

All mail sent to an inmate 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

Any piece of inmate correspondence is limited to five pages of printed or photocopied materials. An individual newspaper clipping is considered to be one page. Do not tape, glue, or paste clipping or pages together or to other pages.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

Programs For Inmates

Gowanda Correctional Facility offers a variety of programs and services for inmates, and there are also industries on the grounds that employ inmates.

Adult Basic Education

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.

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.

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.

Culinary Arts

Students are instructed in baking bread and pastry, preparing all types of foods, kitchen sanitation, and the proper procedures and techniques used in serving food. The goals of this course are to provide students with entry level skills in the food trades.

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.

Drafting

Students in the Drafting course develop entry-level skills to prepare and interpret mechanical detail, assembly and technical illustration drawings and blueprints. A wide range of skills is taught, including free-hand sketching, orthographic projection, geometric constructions, and basic drafting techniques. Blueprint reading extends into skills required in numerous building and mechanical trades covering such things as reading elevations, wall sections, screw threads and others.

Driving While Intoxicated Treatment

Intensive, structured substance abuse treatment designed to meet the unique needs of offenders with DWI-related convictions. Participants receive a minimum of six months alcohol-specific treatment employing the Therapeutic Community model or elements thereof.

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.

Energy Technology

The focus of the Energy Technology course is on energy efficient practices that include wind and solar power. Students develop entry level skills in roofing, plumbing, and electrical with a focus on electrical theory, circuitry wiring, and the importance of weatherization. They also learn to use power tools and to follow general safety procedures.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sex Offendor Counseling and Treatment Program

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.

Small Engine Repair

The Small Engine Repair course provides training in the repair and maintenance of lawn and garden equipment, recreational vehicles, and motorcycles. Students learn troubleshooting, including testing, diagnosis, and repair. Skills taught include major engine overhaul, ignition testing and servicing, fuel system servicing and repair, mower blade replacement and servicing, power drive and transmitting systems, and understanding schematics and specifications.

Waste Management

The Waste Management Program provides recycling and organic waste diversion and avoided cost services for the Department and selected municipalities. 

Program goals include providing:

• solid waste disposal cost avoidance to the Department through procurement, recycling and organic waste composting strategies
• statutory compliance with solid waste regulations and benign environmental stewardship waste management practices
• relevant and productive inmate work experiences

Pictures of Gowanda Correctional Facility

Careers at Gowanda 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 Gowanda Correctional Facility, you can find out more information by clicking here.