Hochul endangering National Guard with prison duty amid corrections strike: lawmaker
As the correctional officers’ strike continues into its 17th day, Governor Kathy Hochul has made the decision to deploy over 3,000 National Guard soldiers to guard duty in 41 out of the state’s 42 prison facilities. This move comes as a response to the unsafe working conditions that correctional officers have been protesting due to the implementation of the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act.
The strike, which began on February 17th with 15,000 correctional officers walking off the job, has left prisons understaffed and vulnerable to inmate violence. The HALT Act, which restricts the use of solitary confinement and focuses on rehabilitation methods, has been blamed for an increase in inmate-on-guard assaults. In response, Governor Hochul has called in the National Guard to help maintain order within the facilities.
However, the deployment of National Guard soldiers has raised concerns among some who believe that they are not adequately trained to handle the challenges of working in a prison environment. State Republican legislator Daniel Stec, whose district includes impacted prisons, expressed worries about the lack of training for the Guardsmen and the potential consequences if they were to be injured while on duty.
Stec highlighted the fact that the Guardsmen are facing long hours and dangerous situations without the proper training to handle violent inmates. He emphasized that many of the soldiers are young and inexperienced, making the situation even more perilous for them.
Despite the deployment of the National Guard, the strike shows no signs of ending soon. Governor Hochul has threatened legal action and terminations for the striking correctional officers who refuse to return to work. Notices of termination and cancellation of insurance have already been issued to some officers who have continued to strike.
The striking correctional officers are demanding the repeal of the HALT Act, which they believe has created unsafe working conditions within the prisons. While a tentative deal was reached between the government-affiliated corrections officers union and the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, many of the “wildcat” strikers have rejected the agreement and continue to protest.
The strike has had serious consequences, with reports of seven inmate deaths since it began. Additionally, the cost of the strike is estimated to be over $3.5 million per day, according to an audit from Governor Hochul’s budget office.
As the situation in New York’s prisons continues to escalate, it remains uncertain when the strike will come to an end and how the state will address the concerns of the correctional officers. The deployment of National Guard soldiers has raised questions about the safety and well-being of both the Guardsmen and the inmates they are tasked with overseeing.
