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A suspicious substance found in an envelope at Marcy Correctional Facility on Thursday (March 27) was determined to be non-toxic. According to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), a sergeant discovered the substance while conducting rounds and subsequently began feeling ill. She was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
The Oneida County Hazardous Materials Team, state police, and the DOCCS Office of Special Investigations responded to the scene to test the substance, confirming it was non-toxic. Despite the non-hazardous nature of the substance, the incident has raised concerns about safety in state prisons.
The discovery at Marcy Correctional Facility is part of a broader issue across New York state prisons, where there have been multiple reports of possible exposures to unknown substances. According to 13WHAM, emergency services have been called to various facilities, including Attica and Wyoming Correctional Facilities, due to similar incidents.
As a precaution, all New York state prisons have implemented new restrictions on visitations, which resumed this weekend. The ongoing concerns have prompted an internal investigation to ensure the safety of both staff and inmates.