New York Governor Kathy Hochul has proposed a series of prison reforms aimed at addressing staffing shortages within the state’s correctional facilities. This initiative comes as part of ongoing budget negotiations and follows a recent crisis triggered by a three-week unlawful strike by corrections officers, which resulted in the termination of 2,000 staff members.
The head of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), Daniel Martuscello, supports Hochul’s plans, which include the potential closure of up to five correctional facilities and the early release of qualifying incarcerated individuals to alleviate the staffing crisis. Under Martuscello’s directive, nearly 700 individuals with nonviolent offenses and no outstanding warrants could be released up to 110 days earlier than their scheduled release dates, provided they have reliable housing upon release.
As the governor negotiates her plan with state lawmakers, one significant proposal includes lowering the minimum age for corrections officers from 21 to 18 in an effort to recruit more staff for the state’s 42 correctional facilities. Additionally, Hochul aims to expand programs that allow incarcerated individuals to earn time off their sentences by participating in various initiatives.
Despite these proposals, state Republican lawmakers have expressed strong opposition, arguing that closing prisons and releasing inmates prematurely poses a serious threat to public safety. Assemblymember Michael Tannousis criticized the approach, stating that it is not a viable solution to the crisis created by the state’s mismanagement. He argues that rehiring the corrections officers who were let go should be the immediate priority.
In contrast, Jennifer Scaife, the executive director of the Correctional Association of New York, argues that reducing the overall inmate population could indeed help ease the burdens on remaining corrections officers.
As the situation develops, the proposed reforms and their implications for public safety and the correctional system will remain a central topic of discussion in New York. Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving issue.
They did 18 yr olds in the 70s had to stop 18 year old cant use a pistol thats why it stopped they werent fired but worked jobs that didnt involve guns.