The Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo, New York is a pre-trial, maximum security detention facility that serves Erie County. Capable of housing 680 inmates, it is the second largest detention facility in New York State outside of New York City. Inmate "Over-flow" is housed at the Holding Center Annex at the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, New York. The Jail Management Division of the Erie County Sheriff's Office conducts regularly scheduled tours of the facility for high school and college student groups, police academy classes and groups of "At risk" teens.[1] The ECHC is staffed by approximately 500 Deputies whom are sworn police officers. There are currently two operational k9 narcotics detection teams among them. The ECHC houses many high profile criminals and frequently has to deploy QET (quick entry team) to quell inmate disturbances and emergency situations.
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| Location | Buffalo, New York |
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| Coordinates | 42°53′06″N 78°52′47″W / 42.885°N 78.879722°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Security class | Maximum |
| Capacity | 680 |
| Opened | 1938 |
| Managed by | Erie County Sheriff's Office |
| Street address | 40 Delaware Avenue |
| City | Buffalo |
| County | Erie |
| State/province | NY |
| ZIP Code | 14202 |
| Country | US |
| Website | http://www2.erie.gov/sheriff/index.php?q=jail-management-division.html |
Complaints
editAccording to a professor at University at Buffalo Law School, "Erie County continues to operate the Holding Center with indifference to the basic medical needs of inmates."[2]
The suicide rate at the Holding Center has brought it unwanted attention.[3][4] The Erie County Prisoners Rights Coalition demonstrates in front of the Center each Wednesday.
References
edit- ^ Erie County Sheriff's Office, Erie County, NY, USA
- ^ "Artvoice.com: The County Holding Center". Archived from the original on 2010-02-01. Retrieved 2009-02-18.
- ^ "In Erie County Jail, Deaths Continue Despite High-Profile Tragedy". Archived from the original on 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ^ Lipsitz, Raina. "Why Do People Keep Dying in Erie County's Jails?". The New Republic. Archived from the original on 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2024-01-16.