North Country state lawmakers call for prison changes immediately

Yahoo

20-02-2025

PLATTSBURGH — The protests outside of many state prisons this week, including those in the North Country, prompted responses from area state lawmakers.
JONES
Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) a former correction officer himself, said the state needs to address the safety issue now.
'Considering recent incidents of exposure and violence at prisons across the state, it is past time that the state address safety in our correctional facilities. The proposed job cuts from NYDOCCS are not the answer,' Jones said.
'Instead, we need more staff now more than ever to make our facilities safer. A full body scan of all visitors and inmates must be required to protect the workers from hazardous contraband, as well as obtaining the technology to scan all legal mail. This needs to be done now and that is why I am pushing for these protections to be included in the budget and have proposed legislation.
Jones said it is unacceptable that incidents continue to occur when there is technology already available to make prisons safer.
'It is also imperative that the state makes changes to the HALT Act and put back in disciplinary measures to increase safety at correctional facilities,' Jones said.
'These situations continue to occur without being addressed leaving horrible working conditions. The state and NYDOCCS need to address this now.'
STEC
State Sen. Dan Stec went even further, calling for the immediate resignation of DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III.
'A few weeks ago, two dozen officers and civilian staffers at Upstate Correctional Facility received medical care after a synthetic drug exposure. Last week, inmates took over dorms and forced a lockdown at Collins. These events are occurring because of HALT, loopholes in the secure vendor process and use of body scanners and reduced staffing levels,' Stec said.
'It's clear that Commissioner Martuscello is incapable of responding to these very real safety concerns and has lost the trust of our correction officers. For the safety of these dedicated men and women and to help restore order and faith in the leadership structure of DOCCS, Commissioner Martuscello must resign or be removed from his post.'
Stec has sponsored legislation that addresses many of the concerns presented by correction officers, from a repeal of HALT to mandatory use of body scanners and an improved secure vendor process.
'These bills have become more important than ever, as a series of events inside correctional facilities have imperiled the safety of officers and civilian staff,' Stec said.
SIMPSON
Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Lake George) also demanded the immediate repeal of the Humame Alternatives to Long term Incarceraton Act, which severely limits the use of solitary confinement as punishment.
'Albany's reckless, pro-criminal agenda has pushed our correctional facilities to the breaking point. There were 1,760 assaults on staff in 2024, upping the previous record of 1,671 assaults set the year prior,' Simpson said.
'Correctional officers and civilian staff are working in the most demanding and outright dangerous conditions due to Democrats' single-party rule and Gov. Hochul's failure to prioritize safety in prisons. Understaffed and overworked COs are left defenseless due to the disastrous HALT Act, while prison closures and Albany's refusal to act have only made matters worse.'
Simpson said the HALT Act has stripped officers of their ability to maintain order, staffing levels have plummeted and officers are being forced into double and triple shifts.
'Yet the governor and the Legislature continue to prioritize criminals over the safety of those who protect us. When given the opportunity in last year's budget, Albany did nothing to improve CO retention, morale or the safety of COs,' Simpson said.
'I stand with our correctional officers and demand real reforms that restore discipline and security in our prisons before more lives are put at risk. We need an immediate repeal of the HALT Act and a budget that does not leave our brave COs behind.'