Corrections Officers in Oneida County join picketing efforts demanding changes for safer working environment
ONEIDA COUNTY- A New York Lawmaker is calling for the Superintendent of the state’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to resign, while Corrections Officers at Marcy, Mid-State and Mohawk have joined the picketing efforts with demands of a safer work environment.
Senator Dan Stec has publically called on Daniel Martuscello III to step down, as officers, families and state figures continue sharing the shocking concerns and realities now faced on a daily basis for correctional facilities statewide.
Specifically, several lawmakers are pointing the blame towards policies that have been enacted under recent state leadership, including the HALT Act.
Read more on HALT Act below (official excerpt from 2023 annual report):
"On March 31, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed into law what is commonly known as the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act (Chapter 93 of the Laws of 2021), which generally serves to restrict the use of segregated confinement in state and local correctional facilities, while creating alternative therapeutic and rehabilitative confinement options.
The legislation places strict limitations on a local correctional facility’s use of segregated confinement, which is defined as the confinement of an incarcerated individual to a cell in excess of 17 hours per day, with limited exceptions.
The segregated confinement of incarcerated individuals 21 years of age and younger, 55 years of age or older, disabled, or pregnant is generally prohibited.
Otherwise, the segregated confinement of an individual is generally limited to 15 consecutive days, or 20 days in any 60-day period.
Out-of-cell programming must generally be offered to individuals in segregated confinement at least 4 hours per day, and at least 6 hours per day for individuals confined in residential rehabilitation units (RRUs), utilized by large facilities for incarcerated individuals who have reached the time limitations of segregated confinement.
The New York State Commission of Correction (Commission) voted to adopt HALT Act-compliant regulations setting minimum standards for the imposition of segregated confinement and the operation of RRUs in jails.
The regulations became effective March 31, 2022 to coincide with the effective date of the HALT Act."
Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush’s office cites a staggering 76% increase for assaults on staff members, while inmate on inmate assaults are up a shocking 169%.
Though Governor Hochul has threatened to mobilize the National Guard as her response to this issue, Assemblyman Blankenbush has criticized the Governor by saying she should be mobilizing common sense instead.
Stay tuned for an updated on-air report, as we plan to attend the strikes in Oneida County.
Prison image.
