Latest news with #StateDepartmentofCorrectionsandCommunitySupervision
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Counties see early release of inmates as potential unfunded mandate for country jails
PLATTSBURGH — County sheriffs in the region have concerns about the cost of housing an increased number of inmates as the state attempts to deal with staffing shortages at state correctional facilities, made worse by a recent 22-day correction officer strike. The state's planned early release of certain inmates to alleviate a shortage of correction officers poses an essentially 'unfunded mandate' when county jails house formerly incarcerated individuals which violate probation while under state supervision, said Franklin County Sheriff Jay Cook. Cook and Franklin County Manager Donna Kissane said the state should either reimburse counties for the cost of housing inmates released early which violate probation, or else rethink its early-release plan. 'County jails were never intended to serve as extensions of the state prison system. The current practice effectively shifts the costs of supervision and incarceration from the state to local governments without any accompanying financial support,' Kissane wrote in an April 10 letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, a copy of which was released to The Press Republican. NOT ENOUGH Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said counties do receive $100 per day reimbursement from the state for housing inmates picked up for parole violations or inmates otherwise waiting to be transferred to state correctional facilities, but the payment does not cover the cost and takes a long time to process. The federal government pays $130 per day, he said. State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Daniel Martuscello said that inmates to be released early would have been released soon either way. 'They were going out into the community based on their release date within the next 90 days anyhow. We're just advancing that under Correction Law 73 which I have the authority to do,' he said, in a statement released Tuesday. 'Again, I have broader authority, but we made it very narrowly focused to ensure public safety.' Cook, in a telephone interview on Monday, said he does know how many inmates will be released early to Franklin County. 'That's part of the problem. No one knows,' he said. 'The point is one is too many if we are not reimbursed.' In the past, the county has housed one to a few state-supervised inmates which violated parole from time to time, with periods in between when none were housed. Earlier this month, Martuscello directed that a list be compiled of inmates which could be released early to alleviate correction officer shortages after the recent 22-day correction officer strike. Those convicted of violent felonies and non-drug-related felonies, Class B-to-E violent felonies, and sex offenses would not be eligible for early release. To be released early, qualifying inmates must have a department-approved residence to be released to, other than a homeless shelter or Department of Social Services placement. Martuscello said Tuesday that less than 700 inmates statewide will be released early. DELAYS Favro, the Clinton County sheriff, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday that a larger concern is the delay of the state transferring inmates from county jails to state facilities because the state is not able to accept them due to staffing shortages. It's not just the cost of housing itself, but the uncertainly of staffing levels and ordering of food, which must be estimated in advance, he said. There is also concern about uncertainty over who will pay for medical treatment as counties house inmates for the state for longer periods of time, said Essex County Sheriff David Reynolds. 'I don't think the state has really addressed that,' he said, in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Clinton County, as of Tuesday, was housing 26 'state-ready' inmates, because the state could not accept them. Essex County, as of Tuesday, was housing three 'state-ready' inmates. 'The longer this goes, the more we're going to wind up with,' Reynolds said. Reynolds said the issues of inmates released early and the delay in transfer of state-ready inmates are equally concerning. Cook said that in addition to reimbursing counties for the cost of housing probation violators, that the state should be sure it has sufficient staff to supervise inmates release early, before moving forward with the early release plan. 'It is imperative that Governor Hochul reviews the early release of inmates throughout the county and continues supervision. If the state cannot guarantee proper oversight through the Division of Parole, then the release of such individuals should not be granted,' Cook said, in a news release. 'We've taken a very narrowly focused approach to this to make sure we're balancing the staffing crisis with preserving public safety by eliminating certain crimes like A1 and A2 offenses other than non-drug violent felony offenses and any sex offenses are not eligible for this whatsoever," Martuscello said. "It's really just non-violent felony offenses that are already approved to go out the door within the next 90 days.' Martuscello said. Kissane said the county recognizes and supports the broader goals of justice reform, including reducing prison populations and supporting successful reentry, 'However such efforts must be accomplished by equitable financial responsibility," she wrote.
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
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
Governor says early reports show ‘extremely disturbing conduct' leading to inmate's death at Mid-State Correctional Facility
MARCY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The governor says an inmate's death at Mid-State Correctional Facility in Oneida County appears to be the result of 'extremely disturbing conduct.' Florida man swallows $769K in stolen jewelry from Tiffany & Co.: police Jimmy John's is giving out free sandwiches. Here's how to redeem the limited-time deal In shift, hard-line conservatives signal openness to stopgap to avert shutdown Governor says early reports show 'extremely disturbing conduct' leading to inmate's death at Mid-State Correctional Facility Senate GOP defends Trump's Ukraine aid pause as negotiating tactic The governor says, as of Tuesday, March 4, 15 prison workers have been suspended in connection with the death of 22-year-old Messiah Nantwi. On Monday, 11 workers had been suspended. The State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision did not share the circumstances around Nantwi's death, but other inmates at the prison told the New York Times that he was beaten. The medical examiner will be tasked with determining his cause of death. The State Attorney General's Office is conducting a 'preliminary review,' and New York State Police are investigating the man's death, as is routine when an inmate's death appears to be from other than natural causes or known medical conditions. Nantwi was serving a five-year sentence for a weapons-related conviction in the Bronx, prison records show. Mid-State Correctional Facility is a three-minute drive from Marcy Correctional Facility, where inmate Robert Brooks was killed in December. 'At my direction, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has placed 15 individuals on leave in connection with the death of Messiah Nantwi, a 22-year-old individual incarcerated at Mid-State Correctional Facility. 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. '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. '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.' – Governor Kathy Hochul (D) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
