New York’s largest corrections officers union is warning that conditions inside state prisons have reached a breaking point, urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to take immediate action to address rising violence, contraband, and staffing concerns.
In a letter sent Monday, New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association President Chris Summers described the state prison system as being in a “full-scale systemic emergency,” pointing to a series of recent incidents and broader trends across facilities.
The union outlined multiple cases of violence and safety risks, including incidents where correction officers were hospitalized after exposure to unknown substances, assaults on staff by incarcerated individuals, and a homicide inside a correctional facility that officials said could have been prevented.
According to the letter, officers at several facilities have been injured in recent weeks during disturbances, while contraband — including drugs and weapons — continues to enter prisons through visitors and deliveries. The union also cited data showing 44 inmate deaths so far this year, including several suicides, along with additional cases under investigation.
Summers said the conditions are creating an increasingly dangerous environment for both staff and inmates, with rising assaults, overdoses, and exposure incidents tied to contraband entering facilities.
The union is calling on the governor to push for changes to the state’s HALT Act, which limits the use of solitary confinement. Proposed adjustments include expanding the types of offenses eligible for separation, allowing temporary placements for safety concerns, and permitting limited confinement for repeat misconduct.
The letter also urges tougher penalties for smuggling contraband into prisons and calls for a broader effort to reduce or eliminate double bunking in facilities where it poses safety risks.
Union leaders said they are seeking direct engagement with the governor and state lawmakers, arguing that immediate reforms are needed to stabilize the system and improve safety conditions.
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