Community News

 Assembly Republicans held a press conference today at the Capitol to oppose a Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) memorandum to implement an early release program for inmates.

The memo circulated by DOCCS on Monday cites staffing issues within the state's correctional facilities as justification for a potentially dangerous "Get Out of Jail Free" card given to certain inmates. This desperate measure highlights many of the concerns raised by correctional officers regarding inadequate staffing and the safety of inmates, staff and visitors at facilities statewide.

"Our correctional officers have faced an unprecedented wave of violence from inmates, with a record 2,074 assaults on prison staff last year alone. The system is failing, and our officers are stretched thin. As a result of the state's failed leadership, potentially dangerous inmates are now being released even earlier than anticipated. We need immediate action–not more political games and failed leadership," said Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R,C-Staten Island/Brooklyn).

The DOCCS memo follows the recent termination of more than 2,000 correctional officers by Gov. Kathy Hochul contributing to an ongoing staffing crisis. The safety and staffing issues inside the state's correctional facilities are the direct result of misguided policies and decisions made under the current and previous administration.

 "New York's correctional system is in complete disarray, as bad as I've seen it during my 14 years in Albany. The early release of inmates due to the prison staffing crisis is the latest example of incompetence and mismanagement from this administration. The steady drumbeat of Democrats' pro-criminal policies disguised as 'reforms' has done nothing but create chaos and undermine law enforcement. Once again, Democrats have proven they are incapable of running the correctional system. Violence is up. Prisons are closing. Staffing numbers are in free-fall. And now, Kathy Hochul is forced to release inmates early after firing 2,000 correctional officers. For public safety and law and order, this is a new low. The Hochul Administration is literally taking the handcuffs off criminals and putting them on law enforcement. It's unacceptable, wrong and dangerous," said Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C-Corning).

"This staffing crisis is a self-inflicted wound. Years of hiring freezes, weak recruitment and zero investment in officer safety have brought our corrections system to the edge. The HALT Act has only made things worse—assaults on staff are up 2-to-1, and officers are forced to work 16- to 24-hour shifts with no support. Many are retiring early or walking away altogether. They've been abandoned by Albany. The latest proposal is a short-term patch for a long-term crisis. It's a reaction, not a reform. Instead of fixing the core issues, the state is rushing to release individuals—many with serious criminal histories—without proper vetting. The parole board exists for a reason and shouldn't be bypassed. This isn't about resources—it's about failed leadership. New York has the means but not the will. Albany chose politics over public safety, siding with fringe activists and incarcerated legislators instead of the officers on the front lines. It's unacceptable," said Assemblyman Anil Beephan, Jr. (R,C-East Fishkill).

 "Instead of working with us to find solutions and end the crisis, the governor continues to ignore the concerns of workplace safety for correctional officers and the dangers posed by understaffed facilities. The response instead is to dismantle the system piece by piece, putting our communities at risk. The undermining of public safety in our state is reaching frightening levels. We cannot stand by while our criminal justice system crumbles under the encouragement of Albany Democrats' policies," said Assemblyman Scott Gray (R-Watertown).
 
     

Earlier in the day, Assembly Democrats held numerous Republican bills in committee. The proposals, which included many reforms addressing the safety and security inside New York's correctional facilities, were wholly rejected by Democrats. The rejected legislation included: 

• Life without parole for Killing an Officer (A.1480, Angelino): Make life imprisonment without parole mandatory for defendants convicted of murder in the first or second degree if the victim is a police officer, specified peace officer, first responder or correctional officer. 
• Harassment of Employees/Correction Officers (A.2269, Hawley): Make it a class E felony crime of aggravated harassment of an employee by an incarcerated individual to spit at such employee with the intent to harass, annoy, threaten or cause alarm.
• Exposing a First Responder or Correction Officer to Fentanyl (A.3299, Durso): Include intentionally causing physical injury by exposing a first responder or correction officer to fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative in the definition of the offense of assault in the first degree.
• HALT Repeal (A.3217, Simpson): Repeal the HALT Act, which severely limits/eliminates the ability to place dangerous inmates in special housing units separated from the general population.
• Contraband Screening Plans (A.4228, Palmesano): Establish a contraband screening plan that includes a canine at the entrance of every correctional facility.