More than 2,000 former New York correction officers could soon return to work in county jails after Governor Kathy Hochul reversed course on a proposed lifetime ban tied to last month’s historic prison strike. However, the state will maintain its prohibition on rehiring the officers at state-run facilities.
The officers were dismissed and lost their peace officer certifications after refusing to return from a 22-day strike that severely disrupted operations in state prisons. Initially, Hochul’s executive order, issued in response to the walkout, barred them from state and county employment, prompting lawsuits from counties like Oneida and Chemung. However, after mounting opposition from local officials, Hochul’s administration announced it would not extend the hiring restrictions past the April 9 expiration date.
In letters sent March 22 to the New York State Association of Counties, the New York Conference of Mayors, and the New York Association of Towns, Hochul’s office clarified that local governments may hire former correction officers beginning April 10, provided they meet the necessary qualifications. The letters, signed by Jackie Bray, Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, reiterated that the officers were separated for cause, meaning they lost their peace officer status and must retake training if rehired in a law enforcement capacity.
While the move provides relief for local jails struggling with staffing shortages, Hochul made it clear that the state will not reconsider hiring the dismissed officers.
Governor Stands Firm on State Employment Ban
During a press gaggle last week, Hochul emphasized her position, underscoring the severity of the officers’ decision to strike.
“I’d be very cautious because these individuals had a responsibility to protect the public and the incarcerated population, and they walked off the job for 22 days,” Hochul said. “That is something that’s very hard to get over… The communities at large could have been in danger. That’s what we had to deal with for 22 days. And to say that we’re going to, oh, forget? I will never forget that. They’re not ever working for the State of New York”.
The state’s decision to maintain the ban on rehiring the officers at the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) underscores Hochul’s intent to hold them accountable for their participation in what her administration has consistently labeled an “illegal strike.”
Local Hiring Decisions Will Be Left to Counties
Despite the governor’s strong stance, county officials have signaled interest in hiring former officers to fill vacancies at local jails. The letters from Hochul’s office caution that municipalities should conduct thorough screenings before making hiring decisions.
Under state regulations, peace officer training certificates are automatically revoked when an officer is separated for cause. However, the letters clarify that counties may rehire these individuals, provided they complete state-mandated training within one year of appointment.
The decision to allow county employment has been viewed as a compromise amid intense pushback from law enforcement groups and local officials who warned that a blanket ban would worsen already critical staffing shortages.
While the state remains firm in its position that the strike was unlawful and irresponsible, the April 9 expiration of the hiring prohibition at the county level signals an attempt to ease tensions between the administration and local governments grappling with understaffed correctional facilities.
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