19-02-2025
What is the HALT Act? The talking point law that's part of the correction officer strike, explained
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Correction officers at over 20 New York State prisons are striking for a third day on Wednesday, including the Western New York facilities of Attica Correctional Facility, Collins Correctional Facility, Wende Correctional Facility and Lake View Correctional Facility.
One of the major demands of the correction officers is to reverse what is called the HALT Act, but what exactly is that?
The law, which stands for Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement, went into effect across the state in 2022. The law limits the use of solitary confinement and does not allow for solitary confinement for anyone over the age of 55 or under the age of 21, anyone who has a disability, and anyone who is pregnant.
Correction officers are calling for a reversal of the law, saying that it leads to a lack of consequences and punishments in prisons.
'It's taken away their ability as correction officers to enforce the rules and to disincentivize bad behavior,' Republican Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) said at a visit to Collins Correctional on Wednesday. 'There are no consequences to bad actions inside a prison in this state.'
State preparing to send National Guard to staff prisons where officers are striking
Supporters of the act have said that it is a good alternative in order to reduce violence in prisons, and that solitary confinement causes more harm than good.
'Solitary confinement causes devastating harm and death, and worsens safety for everyone, while actual alternatives are proven to reduce violence and better protect all involved, yet DOCCS (New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) has largely failed to adopt them,' said Jerome Wright, the co-director of the #HALTsolitary Campaign who was incarcerated for 32 years. 'Further repression of incarcerated people is not going to make things safer for anyone.'
According to state documents, assaults by inmates on staff has gone up significantly since 2022. In 2022 there were nearly 1,500 assaults. That number went up to 1,671 in 2023 and then went up to over 2,000 in 2024.
However, repealing the law is not that simple. Reversing the law would require legislation and is not something that Governor Kathy Hochul can do unilaterally. Langworthy called for the state legislature to go into an emergency session to repeal it. Union representative Kenny Gold said Hochul could use emergency powers to suspend it.
Other demands of the workers include higher staffing levels, mandated body scans for visitors, scans of incoming mail to inmates, a $5,000 bonus for new employees and no overtime mandates over 16 hours, according to the union.
Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.
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