The union representing New York’s correctional officers is demanding an emergency meeting with state prison officials, warning that a plan to release thousands of inmates early—without addressing staffing and safety issues—will endanger officers and the public.
The call from the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) follows a controversial move by Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Commissioner Daniel Martuscello to grant inmates release up to 110 days before their scheduled dates. The announcement came just days after the state terminated 2,000 correctional officers and failed to resolve long-standing labor concerns that recently led to a 22-day grassroots strike.
“This early release of inmates undermines public safety and sends a troubling message to crime victims,” NYSCOPBA President Chris Summers said in a sharply worded statement. He accused the department of ignoring “the ongoing consequences of staffing shortages” while pushing policies that, in his view, increase the risk of violence inside prisons and in communities.
Summers and union leaders say they’ve tried for months to work with DOCCS and the Governor’s Office to resolve serious problems plaguing state prisons—including chronic understaffing, poor working conditions, and grueling 12-hour shifts. But instead of progress, the union says it’s been met with silence or dismissive gestures, such as when the commissioner denied a formal meeting request and instructed local superintendents to handle concerns independently.
The union said that move “was tantamount to a slap in the face” after good faith efforts by its leadership before, during, and after the unsanctioned strike. “Our members’ safety and the safety of the communities they serve should be a priority,” Summers said. “The ongoing refusal to address these concerns only exacerbates the already dangerous conditions that exist in many of our facilities.”
Since January 2023, DOCCS has lost more than 2,000 officers through attrition and what NYSCOPBA described as a failure to recruit replacements. The recent firings have pushed staffing to “dangerously low” levels, according to the union, making it harder to ensure the safety of both officers and inmates.
The announcement also comes amid growing concern over the fallout from New York’s 2019 pretrial discovery law. Summers noted that hundreds of criminal cases have been dismissed due to prosecutorial staffing shortages and strict deadlines, allowing more individuals accused of serious crimes to walk free on technicalities.
Summers emphasized that the early release policy “is not a long-term solution” to the systemic problems confronting DOCCS. “We continue to urge the State and DOCCS leadership to engage with us in good faith,” he said. “Our members deserve a seat at the table to ensure that their voices are heard, and their concerns are addressed.”
He warned that without meaningful changes, “both public safety and the well-being of correctional officers will continue to be at risk.”
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