MALONE — One inmate has died in Franklin Correctional Facility from complications brought on by COVID-19, according to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision’s online database.

It is the first death reported in the prison and first death among the three state correctional facilities in Malone. Of 37 new COVID-19 cases discovered on Monday, 14 were inmates, Franklin County officials said earlier this week.

Out of its two counterparts — Bare Hill Correctional, with 22 cases, and Upstate Correctional, with three — Franklin stands alone with 140 confirmed cases, according to the county’s online database.

County Manager Donna Kissane said county officials had not yet been notified of the inmate’s death as of Thursday evening.

Release Aging People in Prison Campaign Director Jose Saldana said Thursday he recently received a phone call from the family of the inmate victim, notifying him of his death. RAPP is a part of the People’s Campaign for Parole Justice, which advocates for legislative initiatives surrounding prison management.

Saldana said the inmate’s family believes their loved one’s positive case stemmed from contact from within a prison dormitory.

“The sad thing is, he was getting ready to be released,” Saldana said.

Saldana said he does not believe prisons are correctly conducting contact tracing, which leads to spikes in prison infections and, in certain cases, death.

“I’m formerly incarcerated; I spent 38 years in prison. I know (correctional officers) won’t wear a mask until the supervisor comes around,” Saldana said. “Those are the reports we’re getting from countless families in New York. … It’s (COVID-19 cases) coming through staff and correction.”

Saldana said his organization is calling on the state to release men and women from prison who “do not pose a threat” to society so effective social distancing can be carried out within the tight spaces of correctional facilities.

“Why keep him in prison?” Saldana said regarding the Franklin inmate who died from COVID-19 complications.

“We believe that it’s a very fair and humane step. If I was in prison right now — would they release me, or (would I be) a risk to public safety? Would I still be considered a public risk?

“They can’t label them a public risk forever.”

DOCCS, in a prepared statement last month, said it is following all state Department of Health guidelines regarding congregate settings at each of its facilities: “Every facet of the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been guided by facts, scientific data, and the guidance of public health experts at NYS DOH and the CDC [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], and the work of NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to protect the safety of New York’s corrections staff and incarcerated population is no different.”

Due to the increase of COVID-19 infections, DOCCS suspended prison visitation at all its facilities until further notice, starting Dec. 30, 2020.

Staff who are identified in contact tracing are instructed to quarantine and referred to either their physician or a state testing site, DOCCS spokeswoman Rachel Connors said last month.

They are screened daily for travel, temperature, symptoms, contacts with a COVID-19 case recent positive tests, which requires a 14-day quarantine, she said.

Prison officials said staff members are provided with sufficient personal protective equipment and are mandated to wear masks while on duty. They said inmates are issued masks as well.

“Special investigations have been performing compliance monitoring at DOCCS Bureaus and facilities as well as Bureau and Facility executive team members who are working and walking through the locations every day,” Connors said. “There are progressive disciplinary steps for mask non-compliance, however, our monitoring of mask wearing shows compliance is high.”