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Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor bars fired COs from further state service
PLATTSBURGH — A day after declaring the three-week-old statewide correction officer's strike over, the state barred any officer continuing to strike from any further state service. 'My top priority is the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers — and I have been working around-the-clock to end this illegal work stoppage and restore safety in our correctional system,' Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement Tuesday. 'We have taken unprecedented steps to protect public safety, and I am grateful to the National Guard and DOCCS (Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) personnel who stayed on the job, going above and beyond to protect their fellow New Yorkers. Today, we can finally say this work stoppage is over and move forward towards making our prisons safer for all, supporting our correctional staff, and recruiting the correction officers of the future.' Hochul said that any employee who did not report to work Monday would be terminated, and about 2,000 termination notices were sent out. HIRING BAN Hochul said she also signed an Executive Order establishing a policy barring the hiring into state service of individuals who are participating in the wildcat strike and recommending their removal from the Central Registry of Police and Peace Officers for cause, which would prevent them from being hired as a Police or Peace Officer in state and local jurisdictions. State Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake), a former correction officer himself, was not happy with the governor's Executive Order. 'I strongly oppose the governor's recent Executive Order declaring a state of emergency at correctional facilities and barring terminated New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision officers from future employment at other state, county or local government agencies,' Jones said. 'This is an absolute ridiculous usurpation of local control and an overreach of executive power. The Executive Order is vindictive and must be reversed immediately.' LONG STRIKE The strike began on Feb. 17 at prisons across the state. Correction officers have been protesting the lack of safety inside prisons. They have been asking for more staff, fewer double and triple shifts, better screening for packages and visitors to keep dangerous contraband out, and a repeal of the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act, which strictly limited which inmates and for how long they can be sent to Special Housing Units. Prisons have been guarded by those officers who continue to work and more than 6,000 members of the National Guard that Hochul deployed early on in the strike. After several negotiating sessions with and without representation from the officer's union, the New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association, a deal was finally reached this past weekend. The crux of the deal contained many of the items that had been agreed upon in the first three attempts to settle the strike. The deal was contingent upon at least 85 percent of the officers returning to work by Monday, which did not happen. But the numbers were close as about 10,000 of 13,500 officers had returned to work as of Monday. As a result, the state said it would recognize components of the latest agreement as well as the March 6th agreement in full. Components of the agreements that the State will honor include: - Allowing the Commissioner of DOCCS to exercise his existing discretion under the HALT Act and continue the temporary suspension of the programming elements of the HALT Act for 90 days from the date of the MOA. - Minimizing and working towards eliminating 24-hour mandatory overtime. - Establishing a committee to analyze each facility's staffing and operational inefficiencies with the goal of providing more relief to existing staff. - DOCCS shall not issue notices of discipline under the collective bargaining agreement for an employee who engaged in the strike so long as the employee returned to work by the deadline. - Reiterating rescission of the 70/30 memo. - Immediately reinstating the health insurance of any returning employee. - Continue to pay the 2.5 times overtime rate originally established by mutual agreement on February 20, 2025, for 30 days from the date of the MOA. - Allowing employees to purchase health insurance covering the full State share and employee share to the first day of AWOL/terminated health insurance. - Establishing a committee comprised of representatives of NYSCOPВА and DOCCS and other parties to present recommendations to the New York State Legislature regarding changes to the HALT Act. RECRUITMENT The state also said it would increase efforts to recruit and hire more correction officers. This includes: - Supporting correction officer trainees at New York's Correction Officer Academy - Introducing Article 7 language in this year's Executive Budget to amend the public officers law, in relation to residency requirements for certain positions as a correction officer, allowing recruiting from other states which would greatly expand the number of potential applicants. - DOCCS has contracted with OGS Media Services on a large-scale social media recruitment campaign that includes a multi-channel approach including social media, multicultural digital, streaming audio, video and static ads to better familiarize the public on DOCCS mission. The campaign went live in February 2025 targeting upstate NY community college campuses and military bases. - DOCCS Statewide Recruitment Unit has been running Recruitment Centers in various locations and currently is operating Recruitment Centers in the Destiny USA mall (Syracuse) and Champlain Centre mall (Plattsburgh). - DOCCS launched an advanced placement initiative to attract applicants with Correction Officer experience into our Correction Officer ranks at a pay rate commensurate to their experience. In February, the DOCCS Recruitment Unit collectively attended a total of 157 career fair and table events across colleges, high schools and community events, the state said. In July 2024, the Department launched 'CNY200', a regional hiring incentive promoting direct placement of Correction officer recruits to vacancies – a program that has been expanded to eight counties. The DOCCS recruitment team launched a new initiative to increase DOCCS applications into the NYS HELPs program, by collecting electronic resumes at career and community events and disseminating them to the facilities in their regions. CAN'T WAIT State Sen. Dan Stec (R-Queensbury) who has seven prisons in his district, the most of any state legislator, urged Hochul in a letter to her to be flexible in dealing with the striking officers. 'While the MOA was intended to resolve the wildcat correction officer strike, strict adherence to the 85-percent threshold should not outweigh safety concerns. The provisions laid out relating to staff relief, overtime reduction and facility safety measures are critical to restoring order and operational security,' Stec said. 'Disrupting or rescinding these terms would undermine this ongoing, fraught process and exacerbate the current staffing shortage.' Stec also asked Hochul to consider extending a final notice period that allows any remaining terminated employees the opportunity to return to work and have DOCCS rescind their terminations. 'Current recruitment classes average 50 trainees. Even if 15 officer classes were held a year, it would take three years to backfill those positions at that rate,' Stec said. 'Considering that current officers are working 12-hour shifts, for five days a week, we simply can't wait that long.' Stec also said under Hochul's leadership DOCCS is in 'shambles.' 'The strong arm tactics to ignore sincere safety concerns and terminate over 2,000 officers of a department already woefully understaffed is unconscionable,' he said.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
State declares CO strike over
DANNEMORA — The grounds outside Clinton Correctional Facility looked much different Monday than they have the past three weeks. Instead of hundreds of correction officers huddling around fires, holding makeshift signs denouncing the state's treatment of them and receiving food deliveries from supportive members of the community, the parking lot across the street from Clinton Correctional was empty for the first time since before Feb. 17 — when the strike began. State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Daniel F. Martuscello III declared Monday afternoon that the strike was over, and that about 10,000 of the 13,500 officers in the state had returned to work. Monday's developments occurred after an agreement on paper was reached between the state and the correction officer's union, the New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association, over the weekend. It had remained to be seen whether or not staff would return to work. THRESHOLD An 'agreement' was previously reached on Feb. 27, but the strike continued on. However, this time, it played out differently after the state set an early Monday morning deadline to return to work. 'The agreement will take effect upon at least 85 percent of staff returning to work,' a statement issued Saturday night said. James Miller, Director of Public Relations for NYSCOPBA, said Monday morning he did not have an official tally of those who went back to work. 'Received multiple inquiries this morning on the number of officers who returned to work at the deadline today,' he said by email. 'No numbers yet on how many returned to work. I will hopefully have a better sense by early afternoon. More than likely, we won't put out a statement until we know if the threshold was met.' ITEMS The deal appears to include most of the same items that were agreed upon in previous rounds of negotiations. A suspension of the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act for 90 days with review to follow, changes in scheduling to alleviate overtime and double and triple shifts, improved screening procedures and limited or no discipline for striking officers. The deal was signed by DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III, Office of Employee Relations Director Michael Volforte and New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association President Chris Summers. Officers across the state have been on a wildcat strike not sanctioned by the union for three weeks. They have been demanding safer conditions inside prisons. They are seeking more staffing, less double and triple shifts, better screening for packages and visitors to keep contraband out, a repeal to HALT. The state has threatened to fire striking officers and suspended health insurance coverage for them and their families. The National Guard has been called in to help those officers who have been reporting for work, cover prisons. THANKED THE STAFF Martuscello said the National Guard and the officers who have been working deserve credit. 'I want to thank the staff that have worked hard every day of this strike,' he said. 'Your being there was critical for this challenging 22 days.' While it appears that officers at Clinton Correctional Facility and Altona Correctional Facility have largely returned to work, there reportedly were still large numbers of officers picketing at prisons in Malone in Franklin County. Martuscello said that the state would be terminating about 2,000 officers who did not return to work, immediately. LEGAL AID SOCIETY While Martuscello touted the end of the strike, the Legal Aid Society said it was not happy about the deal reached, and threatened legal action. 'Although Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III and NYSCOPBA leadership have signed an agreement aimed at ending the illegal strike, the threat to incarcerated New Yorkers persists. Without a clear plan to swiftly restore essential services, resume legal and family visits, provide medical care neglected during the strike, and implement strong oversight to prevent retaliation by returning correctional staff, the people we serve in DOCCS facilities across the state will continue to face life-threatening harm,' a statement from the Legal Aid Society said Monday. 'Compounding these concerns, DOCCS has doubled down on a purported 'suspension' of HALT, the vague terms of which threaten a boundless and illegal circumvention of critical legal protections for incarcerated New Yorkers. All incarcerated New Yorkers, their families, friends, and communities, deserve to know what DOCCS is doing to comply with HALT, and we are going to court to ensure they have that clarity.' The Legal Aid Society said it will continue to closely monitor this situation to ensure the well-being of those they represent and safeguard their legal rights. JONES WANTS SAFETY State Assemblyman D. Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) a former correction officer himself, said he will remain committed to fighting for workplace safety at correctional facilities across the state. 'What is happening at correctional facilities is horrible and it should have never come to this,' Jones said. 'No one wants to see anyone lose their job for protecting workplace safety. All we want is for everyone to return to work under safe conditions.'
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Another prison agreement reached on paper
PLATTSBURGH — After what looked like another round of negotiations going nowhere, the state and correction officers union reached another deal on paper to end the three-week wildcat strike. All that remains to be seen is whether the rank and file members who have been picketing since Feb. 17 will return to work by the prescribed deadline of Monday, March 10, at 6:45 a.m. 'DOCCS (the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) is confirming that the parties have reached a mutual agreement that will return staff to work on Monday, March 10 at 6:45 a.m.,' a statement issued Saturday night read. 'The agreement will take effect upon at least 85 percent of staff returning to work.' DEAL ITEMS The deal appears to include most of the same items that were agreed upon in previous rounds of negotiations. A suspension of the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act for 90 days with review to follow, changes in scheduling to alleviate overtime and double and triple shifts, improved screening procedures and limited or no discipline for striking officers. The deal was signed by DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III, Office of Employee Relations Director Michael Volforte and New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association President Chris Summers. There was no word Saturday night from striking rank and file officers on the picket lines. One section of the latest agreement addressed, 'Strike-Related Discipline and Other Actions.' • a. DOCCS shall not issue notices of discipline under the collective bargaining agreement for an employee who engaged in the strike, provided the employee returned to work by the deadline and in accordance with Section 12 of the MOA. • b. This does not apply to employees who engaged in criminal or illegal activity separate and distinct from strike participation. For example, employees who engaged in vandalism or violence will receive notices of discipline for such misconduct. • c. DOCCS will rescind probationary terminations issued to striking employees and reinstate any employee who resigned or was deemed resigned under Article 14.10 as a result of the strike upon that employee's request when they return to work. If these individuals do not comply with Section 12 at any time, they will be immediately deemed resigned. The employee shall have the opportunity to submit evidence of compliance with Section 12 within 48 hours of receiving notice of noncompliance from the employer. • d. DOCCS will take the necessary steps to adjourn Taylor Law contempt proceedings against individual employees who return to work by the deadline and as set forth in Section 12 of this MOA. Once these individuals have returned to work, DOCCS will move to terminate such proceedings. • e. Health Insurance – The State will reinstate, effective immediately and retroactive to the first date of absence, the health insurance of any employee whose coverage was terminated—provided the employee pays the Cobra rate for such coverage for the period of termination and returns to work by the deadline as set forth in Section 12 of this MOA. However, an employee is not required to pay the Cobra rate if they elect not to have their health insurance restored to that date. NYSCOPBA must withdraw the health insurance litigation without prejudice. The provisions of this section do not include any Taylor Law deductions pursuant to Civil Service Law 210 for any employee who engaged in the strike. LATEST The latest deal came several hours after a round of negotiations between the state and the correction officers union appeared to have failed Friday night and into Saturday morning. In a memo Saturday to all members of NYSCOPBA, the union that represents about 14,000 correction officers, the union said that a negotiation session that began at 8 p.m. Friday night ended around 1:15 a.m. Saturday without a deal. 'Unfortunately, negotiations ended poorly due to the state's refusal to ensure that health insurance coverage would be made retroactive to the date of AWOL (absent without leave) for those who had their coverage terminated,' the memo said in part. 'NYSCOPBA insisted that this must be part of any agreement arrived at between the parties. The state was adamant that it would not move off if its position. We then asked to bring back the mediator to help resolve this issue, at which point, the state terminated negotiations.' Saturday marked the 20th day of the strike. The officers are demanding safer working conditions inside prisons before they go back to work. At the top of their list of concerns are a lack of staffing, being forced to work double and triple shifts and inadequate measures to keep troublesome contraband out. They also want a repeal to HALT, which strictly limits which inmates and for how long they can be sent to Special Housing for egregious infractions. Officers and the union have been pointing to the significant increase in inmate on inmate and inmate on officer assaults since HALT was enacted in March of 2022. With the majority of officers out on the picket line, state prisons have been run by officers that have shown up for work and members of the National Guard, which were called to action by Gov. Kathy Hochul early on in the strike. The state and union leadership struck a deal last week after several sessions with a mediator, but the rank and file members did not feel it was strong enough and many of them stayed on strike. The state has threatened to fire striking officers and remove their health insurance benefits and even arrest some officers. MORE TALKS Another round of negotiations were held this week via Zoom between representatives from the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and actual striking officers from each prison. A deal was close, but still not quite what the rank and file members wanted, and the union leadership refused to sign off on it. Some officers did return to work by the Friday deadline etched out in that deal, but the picket line was still quite crowded at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora on Friday. On Saturday, there were still many officers picketing at Clinton Correctional, but a much smaller number appeared outside Altona Correctional Facility, a medium security prison in Altona. Saturday's memo from NYSCOPBA said that the union leadership must continue to condemn the strike and demand that all staff immediately return to work while the union continues to fight. 'Our plan moving forward, unless or until the state returns to the table with a reasonable offer, is to direct that members return to the facility while NYSCOPA continues to file the lawsuits necessary to protect membership rights,' the memo said. The memo also said the union would be filing suits against the cancelation of health insurance for members and other acts by the state. 'Our law firm is working diligently to file a direct dealing improper practice charge and injunction against DOCCS and Commissioner (Daniel) Martuscello after his failed attempt to pit membership against one another and impose his MOA (memorandum of understanding) yesterday evening,' the memo said. There was no word from NYSCOPBA Saturday night after the latest agreement was released.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Another prison agreement reached on paper
PLATTSBURGH — After what looked like another round of negotiations going nowhere, the state and correction officers union reached another deal on paper to end the three-week wildcat strike. All that remains to be seen is whether the rank and file members who have been picketing since Feb. 17 will return to work by the prescribed deadline of Monday, March 10, at 6:45 a.m. 'DOCCS (the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) is confirming that the parties have reached a mutual agreement that will return staff to work on Monday, March 10 at 6:45 a.m.,' a statement issued Saturday night read. 'The agreement will take effect upon at least 85 percent of staff returning to work.' DEAL ITEMS The deal appears to include most of the same items that were agreed upon in previous rounds of negotiations. A suspension of the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act for 90 days with review to follow, changes in scheduling to alleviate overtime and double and triple shifts, improved screening procedures and limited or no discipline for striking officers. The deal was signed by DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III, Office of Employee Relations Director Michael Volforte and New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association President Chris Summers. There was no word Saturday night from striking rank and file officers on the picket lines. One section of the latest agreement addressed, 'Strike-Related Discipline and Other Actions.' • a. DOCCS shall not issue notices of discipline under the collective bargaining agreement for an employee who engaged in the strike, provided the employee returned to work by the deadline and in accordance with Section 12 of the MOA. • b. This does not apply to employees who engaged in criminal or illegal activity separate and distinct from strike participation. For example, employees who engaged in vandalism or violence will receive notices of discipline for such misconduct. • c. DOCCS will rescind probationary terminations issued to striking employees and reinstate any employee who resigned or was deemed resigned under Article 14.10 as a result of the strike upon that employee's request when they return to work. If these individuals do not comply with Section 12 at any time, they will be immediately deemed resigned. The employee shall have the opportunity to submit evidence of compliance with Section 12 within 48 hours of receiving notice of noncompliance from the employer. • d. DOCCS will take the necessary steps to adjourn Taylor Law contempt proceedings against individual employees who return to work by the deadline and as set forth in Section 12 of this MOA. Once these individuals have returned to work, DOCCS will move to terminate such proceedings. • e. Health Insurance – The State will reinstate, effective immediately and retroactive to the first date of absence, the health insurance of any employee whose coverage was terminated—provided the employee pays the Cobra rate for such coverage for the period of termination and returns to work by the deadline as set forth in Section 12 of this MOA. However, an employee is not required to pay the Cobra rate if they elect not to have their health insurance restored to that date. NYSCOPBA must withdraw the health insurance litigation without prejudice. The provisions of this section do not include any Taylor Law deductions pursuant to Civil Service Law 210 for any employee who engaged in the strike. LATEST The latest deal came several hours after a round of negotiations between the state and the correction officers union appeared to have failed Friday night and into Saturday morning. In a memo Saturday to all members of NYSCOPBA, the union that represents about 14,000 correction officers, the union said that a negotiation session that began at 8 p.m. Friday night ended around 1:15 a.m. Saturday without a deal. 'Unfortunately, negotiations ended poorly due to the state's refusal to ensure that health insurance coverage would be made retroactive to the date of AWOL (absent without leave) for those who had their coverage terminated,' the memo said in part. 'NYSCOPBA insisted that this must be part of any agreement arrived at between the parties. The state was adamant that it would not move off if its position. We then asked to bring back the mediator to help resolve this issue, at which point, the state terminated negotiations.' Saturday marked the 20th day of the strike. The officers are demanding safer working conditions inside prisons before they go back to work. At the top of their list of concerns are a lack of staffing, being forced to work double and triple shifts and inadequate measures to keep troublesome contraband out. They also want a repeal to HALT, which strictly limits which inmates and for how long they can be sent to Special Housing for egregious infractions. Officers and the union have been pointing to the significant increase in inmate on inmate and inmate on officer assaults since HALT was enacted in March of 2022. With the majority of officers out on the picket line, state prisons have been run by officers that have shown up for work and members of the National Guard, which were called to action by Gov. Kathy Hochul early on in the strike. The state and union leadership struck a deal last week after several sessions with a mediator, but the rank and file members did not feel it was strong enough and many of them stayed on strike. The state has threatened to fire striking officers and remove their health insurance benefits and even arrest some officers. MORE TALKS Another round of negotiations were held this week via Zoom between representatives from the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and actual striking officers from each prison. A deal was close, but still not quite what the rank and file members wanted, and the union leadership refused to sign off on it. Some officers did return to work by the Friday deadline etched out in that deal, but the picket line was still quite crowded at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora on Friday. On Saturday, there were still many officers picketing at Clinton Correctional, but a much smaller number appeared outside Altona Correctional Facility, a medium security prison in Altona. Saturday's memo from NYSCOPBA said that the union leadership must continue to condemn the strike and demand that all staff immediately return to work while the union continues to fight. 'Our plan moving forward, unless or until the state returns to the table with a reasonable offer, is to direct that members return to the facility while NYSCOPA continues to file the lawsuits necessary to protect membership rights,' the memo said. The memo also said the union would be filing suits against the cancelation of health insurance for members and other acts by the state. 'Our law firm is working diligently to file a direct dealing improper practice charge and injunction against DOCCS and Commissioner (Daniel) Martuscello after his failed attempt to pit membership against one another and impose his MOA (memorandum of understanding) yesterday evening,' the memo said. There was no word from NYSCOPBA Saturday night after the latest agreement was released.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Country COs join others in Albany rally
PLATTSBURGH — Hundreds of striking North Country correction officers joined hundreds more from across the state at a rally on the steps of the state capitol in Albany Tuesday demanding safer conditions inside state prisons. Officers began their wildcat strike, which is not sanctioned by their union, the New York State Correction Officer Police Benevolent Association, on Feb. 17 at prisons across the state. The officers are demanding more staffing to alleviate double and triple shifts, better measures to screen mail and visitors to keep troublesome contraband out, and a repeal of the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Incarceration Act, which strictly limits how long and which inmates can be sent to Special Housing Units. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and NYSCOPBA representatives met last week for a series of mediation sessions and came up with an agreement, which called for a suspension of HALT for 90 days after which it will be examined, more screening and no discipline for striking officers. But the rank and file, which did not vote on the agreement, was not enthused with the offer. Some officers returned to work by the March 1 deadline imposed by the state, but hundreds remained on the picket lines outside prisons across the state including in Dannemora, Altona and Malone in the North Country. BUS CARAVAN After picketing outside prisons for more than two weeks, a caravan of buses filled with officers and supporters trekked to Albany for a show of solidarity Tuesday. Reports of 2,000 to 3,000 people were there. Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake), a former correction officer himself, met with the striking officers who visited Albany. 'I remain committed, as I've always have been, to fighting for safe working and staffing conditions at correctional facilities,' Jones, who is also a co-sponsor on a bill to make changes to the HALT Act, said. 'My message has always been consistent, and I'll continue pushing the governor and DOCCS for much-needed facility updates to keep our workers safe... Two decades of my life have been spent behind the walls of our correctional facilities as a correction officer, so I know all too well the challenges facing officers, staff, and their families. Making sure our men and women who serve in our facilities can go to work and return home safely will always be a top priority to me.' Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Lake George) also took time to speak with officers. 'Our correctional officers put their lives on the line every day, yet Albany policies like the HALT Act have made their jobs even more dangerous. Assaults on officers have risen 76%, and inmate-on-inmate assaults rose 169%. Today's demonstration is proof the crisis can no longer be ignored,' Simpson said. 'I stand with these brave men and women in demanding action. We must repeal the HALT Act and restore the tools necessary to keep our correctional facilities safe,' Simpson continued. Simpson is sponsoring legislation in the Assembly to repeal HALT and protect those who work in and serve time in New York's prisons. 'It's time for Gov. Hochul to listen to the voices of our correctional officers and take real action before this crisis spirals further out of control,' Simpson said. On Monday, the state began terminating some officers who have been out of work since the strike began. Gov. Kathy Hochul did, however, use the State of Emergency designation to make body scanner use mandatory for visitors. SCANNERS State Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) said that was a good first step, but more needs to be done. 'On Jan. 30, I visited Upstate Correctional Facility (Malone) after an unknown chemical exposure and met with the superintendent, officers and civilian staff. During this meeting, I learned that body scanner use is optional for inmates and their visitors and on Feb. 4, I introduced Senate bill S.4422 to close this loophole and make body scanner use mandatory,' Stec said in a statement. 'After introducing this bill, I wrote to both Governor Hochul and Senate Majority Leader (Andrea) Stewart-Cousins, requesting this measure be included in the upcoming state budget. The main reason correction officers across the state are on strike is that they are forced to endure extraordinarily unsafe working conditions. Making body scanner use mandatory for inmates and visitors is a crucial step in the effort to make correctional facilities safer.' Stec said the governor and DOCCS' decision to make body scanners mandatory for visitors during the ongoing state of emergency is a welcome first step that he, officers and other advocates for prison safety have called for. 'But a temporary change in policy and executive order is exactly that, temporary and must go further,' he said. 'Mandatory use of body scanners for visitors and inmates must become a permanent change in policy and that requires a legislative resolution. I urge the governor and Legislative leaders to either pass my legislation concerning body scanners or include analogous language in this year's state budget. It's clear that the governor and DOCCS know that this is the right thing to do and given the fraught situation, immediate action on my legislation is more necessary than ever.'
