Hochul Warns Striking Correction Officers of Arrests Over Work Conditions Protest

Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul is taking a hardline approach against New York state correction officers striking over increasingly dangerous prison conditions. Instead of addressing their legitimate safety concerns, Hochul is threatening arrests and stripping away health benefits, proving once again that the Democratic leadership is more interested in silencing dissent than protecting public servants.

The correction officers began their strike last Monday in response to a spike in violence inside state prisons a surge they attribute directly to reckless Democratic prison reform policies. What started with officers from just two prisons has now ballooned to include thousands of correctional officers and sergeants from over 30 facilities statewide.

Instead of listening, Hochul chose force:

• State troopers have been dispatched to serve court orders to striking officers, threatening arrests if they do not return to work.

• The administration has moved to cut off health insurance, leaving officers to pay hefty premiums on their own or risk losing coverage altogether.

• Mediation has only now begun, with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) offering minor concessions while ignoring the root causes of the crisis.

The officers’ grievances are clear. They are protesting the HALT Act, a law pushed through by Democrats in 2022 that limits the use of solitary confinement and introduces "more humane alternatives" for inmates. In reality, the law has led to chaos:

• 169% increase in inmate-on-inmate assaults

• 76% rise in inmate-on-staff assaults

• 32% surge in contraband cases

The numbers don’t lie. Since the HALT Act's implementation, prisons have become war zones, endangering not only officers but also other staff and inmates. Nurses, social workers, and maintenance workers are all caught in the crossfire of dangerous inmates emboldened by lax disciplinary measures.

Hochul’s response has been nothing short of authoritarian. The striking officers do not have the backing of their own government-affiliated union, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), turning this into a “wildcat strike.” Without institutional support, officers are risking everything to make their voices heard.

Retired officers, no longer bound by fear of retribution, are speaking out. Suzanne Furman, a former sergeant, warned, “You go to work and you don’t know if you’re gonna go home.” Another officer shared the grim reality of prison work, recounting how he was punched in the face three times in a single month.

The dangers are real, and Hochul’s heavy-handed tactics are only pouring fuel on the fire. Republican state Senator Pamala Helming highlighted a recent attack on a female officer at Groveland Correctional Facility. The officer was ambushed at her desk, choked, and beaten—yet stories like this are ignored by Albany.

Instead of addressing the issues head-on, Hochul’s administration is offering temporary fixes, including double overtime pay and suspending some controversial policies. But these proposals do nothing to ensure the long-term safety of prison staff.

New York deserves leadership that stands with those who put their lives on the line every day, not one that bullies them into silence. This isn't just about a strike it's about the safety and security of everyone in the state’s correctional facilities.

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