Shawangunk Correctional Facility, Maximum security prison in Wallkill, New York, US.
Shawangunk Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison for 558 male inmates in Ulster County, New York, a few miles from Wallkill Correctional Facility. The compound includes several secured buildings with inner courtyards, administrative sections, and visitation areas separated by checkpoints.
The prison opened in 1983 by the New York State correctional authority to increase capacity for long-term inmates. The compound underwent several expansions and security upgrades in the following decades to meet modern standards.
The name comes from the Shawangunk Ridge that rises west of the Hudson Valley region. Visitors passing nearby see only the tall fences and watchtowers that define the daily reality of the compound.
Visits take place daily between mid-morning and early afternoon, with a maximum of three adults and one small child allowed per appointment. Visitors must register in advance and pass identification checks and security screenings at the entrance.
Some inmates work in a digitization program where they transfer handwritten documents into electronic formats and receive a small wage. This activity offers one of the few opportunities for paid work inside the compound and provides basic computer skills.
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