Letter to the Editor 11-19-25

I was able to review a copy of the summary of a New York State Commission of Correction meeting earlier today November 19, 2025. In it I found that some issues at the Oswego County Jail were addressed involving 6 different areas, including one involving “the Oswego County Correctional Facility has failed to comply with several critical requirements, including (1) proper administration of medical screening questionnaires and subsequent actions”.

As an RN who was a Director of Nursing at the Onondaga County Justice Center, this concerns me for two reasons.

1 – These screenings help determine if the inmate has any urgent medical issues, and whether they have any drug or alcohol issues.

2 – I spoke at the October County Legislature meeting regarding my concern about extending the contract of the Medical Provider at the Oswego County Jail. This provider, Wellpath, filed bankruptcy in late 2024. They were $550,000,000 – $650,000,000 in debt. Wellpath had had at least 1,500 lawsuits against them related to correctional medical care when the bankruptcy was filed. (Correct Care Solutions was their predecessor). Nine inmates died in one jail in 2022 when Wellpath had the contract, and nurses acknowledged that understaffing caused a lack of care for inmates.

This is one more indication that this contract needs to be monitored to ensure that this company is giving the care they are being paid to give and following New York State Department of Corrections regulations. Oversight of some type appears to be indicated.

Thank You

Jim Cannon

Fulton, NY

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