Is Corasanti given special treatment?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - One month ago, Dr. James Corasanti went to jail to serve time for a common law DWI conviction in the crash that took the life of 18-year-old Alix Rice.

Since then, many of our viewers have been asking about his life in jail. And inmates even contacted News 4 with concerns Corasanti is getting special treatment behind bars.

MORE | For our full coverage of the accident, Corasanti's trial, and remembrances of Alix Rice, see our special section

When Corasanti was sentenced to one year in jail, acting Jail Superintendent Thomas Diina told News 4 Corasanti would be treated like any other inmate. And Diina says that's still the case. He says Corasanti is getting no special treatment, and is, in fact, a model inmate.

"He has a cell with a bed, mattress, toilet, light, sink. He's not getting anything more or anything less than anyone else in the facilities," Diina said.

At the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, Corasanti is one of about 740 inmates. He's classified as a level-one offender, which is considered low risk. That's based on his crime, his lack of criminal history, and mental and physical evaluations.

After sentencing Corasanti, Judge Shelia DiTullio contacted jail staff with concerns about Corasanti's safety. And they took that into consideration.

"Have there been any incidents coming out of that?" News 4 reporter Lou Raguse asked.

"None whatsoever," Diina said.

"Would you say he's a model inmate?" Raguse asked.

"Dr. Corasanti has been a model inmate since the day he came into custody," Diina said.

Other inmates from Alden have contacted News 4 claiming Corasanti has a special cell, doesn't spend time with other inmates, gets more visitation privileges and is treated differently in other ways.

In addition to denying those claims, Diina says he's not surprised to hear of them.

"This is a high profile individual who received a lot of media attention through the course of his proceedings. So he would be ripe for this type of complaint," Diina said.

"And they're baseless complaints?" Raguse asked.

"Exactly. They're entirely baseless. Dr. Corasanti is not receiving any rights privileges, amenities, anything more or less than any other inmate in our facilities," Diina said.

With good behavior, Dr. Corasanti could be released from jail in April.