Seven correctional officers were injured over a two-week period in a series of violent incidents at Five Points Correctional Facility, underscoring ongoing concerns about safety in New York’s maximum-security prisons. The period between November 9 and November 22 also saw multiple inmate-on-inmate fights and several assaults involving inmates throwing feces and urine at officers.
The first major incident occurred on November 12, when officers were escorting inmates back to their cells from the mess hall. One inmate refused to return to his cell and turned combative, attacking an officer and attempting to choke him. The situation escalated until additional officers intervened to subdue the inmate. The assaulted officer sustained neck, facial, and back injuries and was transported to Geneva Hospital for treatment. Three other officers involved in the struggle suffered wrist, arm, back, and shoulder injuries but were treated on-site and remained on duty.
Three days later, on November 15, another violent encounter took place in the mess hall when two inmates began fighting and a third joined in. Despite orders to stop, the inmates continued, forcing officers to use OC spray and physical force to break up the brawl. Two officers were injured during this incident; one suffered an upper arm injury requiring hospital treatment, while the other sustained a leg injury but stayed on duty after on-site care.
In addition to these physical assaults, several officers faced degrading attacks where inmates threw feces and urine at them from inside their cells. These officers were treated for exposure by medical staff and continued their shifts.
The final incident occurred on November 22, again during a mess hall fight. While one inmate complied with orders to stop, another remained combative and had to be restrained after OC spray proved ineffective. An officer involved in breaking up this fight suffered a leg laceration.
Kenny Gold, Western Region Vice President for the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), criticized state officials for failing to address the escalating violence in the prison system. “Five Points continues to be one of the most dangerous prisons in the state… Inmate-on-staff assaults, inmate-on-inmate fights, urine and feces being thrown on staff, and attempted assaults on staff seem to be the new normal,” Gold said.
He pointed to short staffing and mandatory overtime as ongoing issues and expressed frustration that correctional officers’ concerns are being ignored by legislators. “While they will be enjoying the Christmas holiday with their families, our members will continue to be under siege,” he added.
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