York Correctional Institution

Address:	201 West Main Street Niantic, CT 06357 Directions.
Phone:	(860) 451-3001
Fax:	(860) 451-3200
Medical Fax:	(860) 451-3083
Security:	Level 2-5

Warden:	Sharonda Carlos
Deputy Wardens:	Jeffrey Zegarzewski Daniel Dougherty Christopher Brunelle

Visiting Information:

Visiting Schedule (PDF, 11 KB).

Cancellations:  NO SOCIAL VISITS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Population Information:

See data available regarding Connecticut Department of Correction's supervised population.

General Information:

The York Correctional Institution is a high-security facility.  It serves as the state's only institution for female offenders.  It serves all superior courts in Connecticut and manages all pretrial and sentenced female offenders, whatever their security level.

The programming units at the facility have an extensive array of positive interventions for the population, including the 80-bed intensive, inpatient drug treatment unit, the Marilyn Baker House.   An Hospice program trains inmate volunteers to provide end of life care to fellow offenders.

In June 2005, the Charlene Perkins Reentry Center was dedicated in honor of a past deputy warden.  The 100-bed stand alone unit assists in preparing appropriate female offenders, who are within 18 months with skills they will need for community reentry.   In February 2016, this unit became the 'Keys to Success' Community Reintegration Unit; a specifically designed program of support to and accountability by applicable female offenders cultivating their path toward successful community reintegration.

The Department's Correctional Enterprise of Connecticut manages a program based at this facility in which offenders are employed on projects including tailoring offender uniforms.

Girl Scouts Behind Bars, for the daughters of incarcerated women, reflects recent research that enhanced visitation may reduce the possibility of the mother returning to prison and/or the daughter becoming an offender.

The Mommy and Me program provides an enhanced family-focused visitation for mothers, children and their caregivers. In order to participate, mothers are required to be enrolled in or have completed a parenting program at York CI and their children must be on their approved visitor list. Additional information on the program can be accessed on Page 71 on the York compendium or by contacting the program coordinator at 860-451-3128.

Female offenders have spoken to many school and local organizations, as well as at-risk-youth. Community service crews have assisted at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Camp Hazen, the New London Housing Authority, and OpSail 2000.

The facility is also home to the Second Chance Corral, a partnership with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture which provides restorative shelter for abused farm animals which are cared for by the inmate population. 

The York Correctional Institution of the Connecticut Department of Correction has received international attention for the programs and management of its offender population.

Present staffing: 544.

Listing of the inmate programs available at this facility (PDF, 916 KB).

PREA Auditor's Summary Report (PDF, 1 MB).

History:

The Niantic Correctional Institution was founded in 1918 as the Connecticut State Farm and Reformatory for Women. In 1930 an addition added to the population capacity and the facility was renamed the Niantic Correctional Institution.  With the transfer of women from the State Prison in Wethersfield, it became only correctional institution for women in Connecticut.

In 1988 dormitory style housing was built and added an additional 224 beds.

The York Correctional Institution was opened in October of 1994 and was named in honor of Janet S. York, who served as the Warden of the Niantic Correctional Institution from 1960-1975 and as a deputy commissioner for the agency from 1969-1977.

In 1996 the York Correctional Institution and the Niantic Correctional Institution were consolidated into one facility keeping the York Correctional Institution as its name. This facility is situated on 425 acres.

In 1997 an additional celled housing unit was built to add another 196 beds.

In 2008 the institution was named the Facility of the Year by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care for its excellence in health service delivery.  The accompanying accreditation has been renewed as of June of 2011.

In June 2011, with the closing of the adjoining Gates Correctional Institution, an annex housing 225 men at the time was renamed the Niantic Annex and was transferred to the supervision of the Warden of York Correctional Institution.  This was done to insure continued support of the surrounding communities with inmate work crews as well as facilitate the reintegration of offenders who are from south eastern Connecticut.

In January 2016, the Niantic Annex was closed due to a continued decline in Connecticut's prison population. 

In February 2016, the Charlene Perkins Reentry Center building was dedicated as the new 'Keys to Success' Reintegration Center for female offenders.

List of past wardens:

1993-1996	Theresa Lantz
1996-2001	Eileen Higgins
2001-2003	Pamela L. Richards
2003-2007	Lori H. Ricks
2007-2008	Daniel Martin
2008-2009	Angel Quiros
2009-2012	Kevin Gause

2012-2017	Stephen Faucher
2017-2018	Antonio Santiago
2018-2019	Giuliana Mudano