The situation in New York’s prisons is tense, with unlawful strikes by corrections officers causing uncertainty and worsening conditions for incarcerated individuals. The strikes, affecting 41 of the state's 42 prisons, have led to the deployment of the National Guard to maintain order and ensure essential operations continue. The walkouts are linked to disputes over forced overtime and hazardous working conditions, as reported by The New York Times.
Changes to solitary confinement practices have been temporarily suspended. New York State Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III announced this suspension in a memo, which was obtained by The New York Times. The suspension has raised concerns among inmate rights groups, with Antony Gemmell from the Legal Aid Society's Prisoners' Rights Project stating, "It’s obviously endangering our clients in really serious ways."
The strikes have serious consequences for those incarcerated. Michael Vasquez, an inmate at Woodbourne Correctional Facility, shared his concerns about being held beyond his release date due to the ongoing unrest, according to Gothamist. The prison has been under a 72-hour lockdown, leaving prisoners without access to hot meals or commissary goods. Meanwhile, corrections officers protesting outside the prisons express concerns over rising violence and argue that the HALT law's restrictions make it difficult to maintain discipline.
Violence in New York's prisons has increased, with a notable rise in assaults on staff and inmates. A December report from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) cited a 65% increase in assaults on staff compared to 2021. The protests by corrections officers have continued, despite a temporary restraining order from a New York judge requiring them to return to work.
The future of the HALT Act, aimed at limiting solitary confinement and ensuring due process before such measures are used, remains uncertain amidst the ongoing strikes. Jerome Wright, co-director of the HALT Solitary Campaign, criticized the response of Governor Kathy Hochul’s administration, saying, "That's not democracy. That's not even leadership. That's bulls–t," in a statement obtained by Gothamist. Tensions have been further heightened by the indictment of correctional officers in the fatal beating of inmate Robert Brooks, intensifying calls for prison reform.
