Cayuga DA’s office focuses on prosecuting cases of prison violence

Following the implementation of a solitary confinement reform law, prison violence has surged, leading the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office to prioritize cases involving assaults on correctional staff.

In 2022, the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision reported record numbers of assaults on staff and incarcerated individuals, with rates per 1,000 increasing significantly compared to 2021.

Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci told The Citizen that her office is handling more cases stemming from large-scale disturbances and assaults on correctional officers with weapons.

With the Humane Alternatives to Long Term Solitary Confinement Act in effect, Grome Antonacci emphasized that criminal charges serve as the “main deterrent to inmate assaults on staff,” and her office is committed to prioritizing the review and prosecution of these cases.

Staff Report

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