Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan is warning that more prison closures announced by Governor Kathy Hochul will worsen an already critical staffing shortage inside New York’s correctional facilities — putting officers and the public at risk.
Calling the move “reckless and dangerous,” Gallahan says correctional officers are already working extreme overtime and enduring mounting safety threats due to chronic understaffing.
Gallahan said he’s heard from officers being forced to work five or more back-to-back 18-hour shifts. He described a workforce on the edge — physically exhausted, emotionally overwhelmed, and afraid for their safety.
“They are exhausted, overwhelmed, and fearing for their safety,” he said. “This decision will make an already dire situation even worse.”
He pointed to a spike in resignations and a growing lack of basic resources needed to maintain order.
Gallahan also criticized the HALT Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement in state prisons. He says it has stripped correction officers of essential disciplinary tools, making facilities more dangerous for both staff and inmates.
“If we want to restore order and reduce violence, repealing HALT must be part of the solution,” he said.
To address the crisis, Gallahan is urging the state to:
- Launch a statewide recruitment and retention plan
- End mandatory overtime practices
- Reinstate disciplinary authority for officers
- Fully repeal the HALT Act
Without action, he warned, facilities could “devolve into warehouses” with no ability to maintain safety, regardless of budget increases.
“Our corrections officers deserve a safe workplace, manageable schedules, and a clear signal that state leadership is listening,” Gallahan said.
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