Latest news with #HaltAct
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Yahoo
Perspective: Abuse in our prisons is killing our humanity
'Don't tell anyone,' said a prison guard, lowering his voice, 'but I'm not here to be violent.' We wore protective vests and carried handcuffs, pepper spray and a radio with a button to press if attacked. I had been hired as the first Latter-day Saint chaplain in the federal prison system and the first female chaplain at that particular penitentiary. By the time the officer confided in me, I was hearing rumors of abuse in our isolation unit: officers withholding food; verbally and sexually harassing incarcerated men; physically assaulting them. I reported these rumors to my supervisor but saw no response. Advocacy groups have long raised alarms about abuse in prisons beyond the view of cameras. Numerous incidents highlight the severity and pervasiveness of this issue. Nearly a year into my time in the prison, one guard bragged that he and other guards punished incarcerated men beyond what the courts assigned. They did this in the isolation unit, where cameras were scarce. When I told my supervisor, he said the guard might be joking. I wrote a report to a special investigations team, but I had no evidence to corroborate the claim. I do not know the outcome of my report, because I resigned shortly after filing it. My worries about violence within prison walls have resurfaced due to recent events. Ten former New York state prison guards have been charged for their role in the fatal beating of Robert Brooks on Dec. 9. Body camera footage shows officers pummeling Brooks while handcuffed on a medical examination table at Marcy Correctional Facility. If the officers had not been wearing body cameras — which they seemingly didn't realize were recording — the true cause of Brooks' death might have never come to light. During the trial of the officers implicated in Brooks' death, thousands of New York State correctional officers went on a strike that lasted 22 days and cost the state millions of dollars daily. During this period, at least seven prisoners in New York facilities lost their lives. One of them, 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi — imprisoned at a facility just across the street from where Brooks was killed — may have been assaulted by officers. Nine incarcerated men alleged that he had been beaten by staff. The protesting officers demanded safer working conditions, fewer mandated shifts and the repeal of the Halt Act, which limits solitary confinement. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association reached a tentative agreement outlining key provisions to address these concerns. More state and federal policy makers should consider similar provisions. Correctional officers in facilities across the nation face burnout under extreme conditions. Mandatory overtime shifts lead to chronic sleep deprivation, impaired cognitive function and compromised safety. Overworked staff navigate violent conditions where it is easier to maintain control when prisoners are seen as objects rather than people. Incarcerated individuals, already scarred by systemic injustice, are further exposed to violence, deepening the cycle of harm and survival rooted in trauma. In my year serving inside the prison in 2021, I witnessed the consequences of this cycle. One officer recounted how a prisoner murdered a fellow officer. Every day, he wondered who might be next. All of us — incarcerated men and staff — constantly scanned our surroundings in a life-threatening environment where the fear of death was a matter of course. We need a rethinking of policies that created today's mass incarceration system. Not only is the system unjust; it's unsustainable. But addressing systemic issues and creating policy change takes time — time that officers and incarcerated people don't have when their lives are at risk daily. Deaths continue to occur beyond the reach of surveillance. A 2024 Justice Department report examining deaths in Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities from fiscal years 2014 to 2021 found that in at least 64 cases, cameras were either absent, inoperative or failed to provide sufficient coverage. Of those cases, 18 deaths were classified as homicides. More recently, on Dec. 30, in the isolation unit at a federal prison in Pennsylvania, Terry Flowers died after being 'placed in a holding cell where he continued to spit at and kick employees until he became unresponsive,' according to a local news report. It remains unclear whether this was a standard medical emergency or if other factors contributed to his death. Flowers' family and the public may never know. As a chaplain, I communicated with families whose loved ones had died, whether from a medical emergency or assault. I witnessed the pain of families questioning what had happened. The uncertainty of not knowing the cause of a loved one's death behind bars deepens an already painful situation. I recall a particularly emotional conversation with a father who kept saying, 'I'm just trying to bury my son.' For everyone's sake — incarcerated individuals, staff and families — we need to immediately increase surveillance in all prisons, as Hochul proposed in New York. This not only deters abuse of those incarcerated but provides legal protection for officers when prisoners file false claims against them. Understanding the mental toll of isolation, the high rate of suicides in isolation units and the impact of these units on officers, we should limit the time incarcerated individuals spend in isolation and the time officers work in isolation units. Prioritizing adequate rest after standard shifts rather than imposing overtime is essential to maintaining safety and well-being in high-security settings. Finally, independent reviews, in addition to those of the Department of Justice, should be conducted to help prevent systemic abuse and increase accountability. Their results must be made public for transparency and accountability. Reforming our prison system requires a fundamental shift in how we view punishment, accountability and human worth. The call for reform is not just about preventing death. It's about seeing our shared humanity and reclaiming our responsibility to one another.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Deal with CO union requires guards to return to work Monday, striking officers doubtful
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Correctional officers striking across New York State are required to go back to work on Monday, according to a new deal announced by DOCCS late Saturday evening, but striking correction officers in Attica told News 8 on Sunday they're concerned that won't happen with the deal on the table. Sunday marked 20 days since correctional officers statewide went on an unsanctioned strike, calling for a repeal of the HALT Act, better working hours and conditions, among other asks. In order for this new agreement to take effect, staff levels for COs must reach an 85% threshold, requiring those still on strike to return to work no later than 6:46 Monday morning, however, Attica guards on the picket lines Sunday said the deal could be better. One of the biggest concerns they have is in Section 1 of the agreement – how the state plans to move forward with the HALT Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement against incarcerated individuals within state facilities. The deal asserts the originally-proposed 90-day suspension of the HALT Act, during which DOCCS will be responsible for determining its effectiveness. The guards on strike said 90 days isn't long enough – calling for it to be repealed entirely. The Halt Act went into effect across the state in 2022 and requires all prisoners to be let out of their cells every day for at least seven hours and limits the amount of solitary confinement time an inmate can get. Correction officers said it limits inmate discipline, which they said makes their job harder, but inmates called it a saving grace. There are also major concerns looming over long work hours. '24-hour work shifts are too long, I understand,' Governor Kathy Hochul acknowledged early on in the strikes after an initial deal failed to stop the strikes. 'These individuals work in tough conditions; I know that and appreciate it. This creates time away from their families, and the unpredictability is not an ideal situation. Nobody wanted this.' DOCCS detailed in this most recent agreement a plan to 'minimize and work towards eliminating anyone working 24-hour mandatory overtime,' but striking officers said they don't want such extensive overtime to even be an option, citing safety concerns. The prison guard's union, which did not authorize the strikes and has advocated against officers' continuing the illegal strike, announced it had taken legal action against DOCCS hours before the state announced the new deal had been reached with the union. In a letter to its members, the union announced it had taken the legal action, and threatened further action, to ensure its returning members receive their benefits, namely their health insurance. After the first deal was struck, a number of penalties were initiated, including the possibility of COs being fired, arrested, and their health insurance being taken away. The new deal, which was signed by NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers, does not waive strike penalties, according to DOCCS. News 8 reached back out to the union for comment following Saturday's deal confirmation and has yet to hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
15 now on leave after inmate death at Mid-State prison
MARCY, N.Y. (WROC) — 15 people are now on leave after a 22-year-old inmate at Mid-State Correctional Facility died this past weekend, according to a statement sent out by Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday. Staff on leave as 22-year-old inmate's death probed Messiah Nantwi died at the prison in Marcy, outside of Utica, on Saturday. Mid-State is near the Marcy Correctional Facility, where Robert Brooks, a man serving time for a Monroe County assault, died after he was beaten as an inmate there. Ten Marcy Correctional COs have since been indicted by a grand jury, and Brooks' death was ruled a homicide. 'While the investigation into this incident is ongoing, early reports point to extremely disturbing conduct leading to Mr. Nantwi's death and I am committed to accountability for all involved. The people of New York extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Nantwi's family and loved ones,' Governor Hochul stated. Nantwi was serving a five-year sentence for a weapons-related conviction in the Bronx, prison records showed. While it's still unclear what led up to his death, inmates reportedly told the New York Times he was beaten. 'I am grateful to Commissioner Martuscello and DOCCS leadership for taking swift action to respond to this incident. However, this tragedy is a reminder of the need for real systemic change within our correctional system — beginning with the policies I implemented following the murder of Robert Brooks, such as mandating the use of body-worn cameras, expanding whistleblower hotlines, and bringing in outside experts for a systemwide culture review,' Hochul announced. 'As I've said for weeks, my top priority is the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers involved in the correctional system, from civilian employees to National Guard to Correction Officers to incarcerated individuals. The ongoing illegal work stoppage is a significant safety risk, and I once again reiterate the need for Correction Officers to return to work. My Administration remains committed to working in good faith with Correction Officers to improve safety and working conditions within the correctional system, but we will not compromise on the need for responsible, law-abiding behavior by every single person who walks into a DOCCS facility.' Monday, it was initially announced that 11 staff members of the prison were placed on leave. It was not specified what their positions were. DOCCS will terminate health insurance for 'AWOL' correction officers The death came as prison strikes entered a second week. Correctional Officers at nearly all New York prisons were on strike, even after a deal had been struck with intentions to end the strikes, calling for safer work conditions and for the Halt Act to be repealed. It's important to note that Mid-State Correctional Facility was not on the list of prisons actively striking. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Orleans County breaks silence, supports correction officers
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – New York correction officers are now on day ten of their unauthorized strike, calling for change when it comes to what they called inhumane working conditions leading to safety concerns and inadequate staffing management. Officials in Orleans County, which has two state-run prisons, are now showing support for the officers. Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard said the impact of the strike is being felt across the region. 'It's an integral part in our community. Everybody knows someone who works at one of the facilities. Their families are here and we just wanted to show them they are in our thoughts and prayers and we are thinking of them,' she told News 8 on Wednesday. Orleans is home to the Orleans and Albion correctional facilities and the county-run jail. On Monday – the county announced that the courthouse dome will be lit blue for the next week to show support and appreciation for those striking officers. 'On my drive home, I pass by the men's facility and I see the guys out there I know it must have been a difficult decision, you know, I'm not going to get into any labor issues and I'm certainly not pro strike – but we are pro-correction officer,' Howard said. The HALT Act is one of the items at the center of these strikes. The Halt Act went into effect across the state in 2022 and requires all prisoners to be let out of their cells every day for at least seven hours and limits the amount of solitary confinement time an inmate can get. Many advocacy groups and incarcerated individuals are in support of it, but those on strike want changes. Correction officers, inmates divided over NYS Halt Act Scott Joerger, who was out on the front lines Wednesday said, 'Kathy Hochul has to come to the table and negotiate and finish this strike. I have a son in there, who's a college student, not a CO. He needs to get back to school – they need to get back to work.' Others in attendance told me they plan on being out there for as long as it takes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Correction officers, inmates divided over NYS Halt Act
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Statewide division continues over the Halt Act. Correction officers entered their ninth day of striking on Tuesday and said the Act needs to be repealed to restore prison control. Those incarcerated, however, said its removal would take away more rights and privileges. The Halt Act went into effect across the state in 2022 and requires all prisoners to be let out of their cells every day for at least seven hours and limits the amount of solitary confinement time an inmate can get. Correction officers say it limits inmate discipline, which they said makes their job harder. Meanwhile, inmates call it a saving grace. 'It's really frustrating being retaliated against for trying to get what you're entitled to and not being able to get it because an officer doesn't like you or is in his or her feelings that day,' That's how a statement from an anonymous individual incarcerated at Clinton prison in Dannemora, New York starts. The inmate went on to say the strike by corrections officers is 'nothing but an attempt to distract from the increased scrutiny of officer brutality. The National Guard is here all because the officers got caught beating the brother at Marcy to death. The Halt Solitary Campaign says the law has forced positive changes that have saved lives and reduced torture and there are still consequences for violence within the facility.' Day one of the strike was on Feb. 17, three days before ten correction officers were charged with murder in the beating death of Robert Brooks. Those who walked off the job nearly 10 days ago said there's a need for operational changes, including the suspension of the Halt Act due to a staffing crisis, and inhumane working conditions. Jennifer is the wife of a correctional officer and said the act has increased uncertainty and danger for officers since it was introduced and said it has affected her family. 'It's not holding the inmates accountable, because it's taking away the officers' rights,' Jennifer said. 'It's changed the way our family interacts because we're concerned about how you know if he's coming home or not.' Governor Hochul said Tuesday the state is doing everything it can to get correction officers back to work and agreed staffing was a barrier to carrying out provisions of the law and temporarily suspended parts of the Halt Act. Jennifer said she wants to see more done. 'They're just trying to figure out how to threaten the officers to get them back to work. Put the ownership back with the prisons and the leadership,' Jennifer said. State Senator Dan Stec proposed an amendment to repeal the Halt Act that was voted down early Tuesday. Governor Hochul said the state is determined to find a resolution as soon as possible. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
