Amanda Prestigiacomo

So the strike started on the 17th with officers from two New York prisons striking over unsafe conditions. The movement quickly swelled in support and now nine out of 10 officers, about 15,000 total, from 38 of the state's 42 prisons are now participating in the strike.

Notably, the strike has not been sanctioned by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, which is the government-affiliated union for corrections officers. That makes this a so-called wildcat strike. Governor Hochul has repeatedly called the strike illegal, citing violation of the Taylor Law.

Notably, the strike has not been sanctioned by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, which is the government-affiliated union for corrections officers. That makes this a so-called wildcat strike. Governor Hochul has repeatedly called the strike illegal, citing violation of the Taylor Law.

Now, as for the timing of all of this, officers say it's a long overdue response to Hochul and her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, ignoring their complaints about safety and mandated work shifts that, according to officers, can exceed 72 hours at times. Additionally, just days before the strike, officials locked down the Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County due to an inmate uprising.

Now, as for the timing of all of this, officers say it's a long overdue response to Hochul and her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, ignoring their complaints about safety and mandated work shifts that, according to officers, can exceed 72 hours at times. Additionally, just days before the strike, officials locked down the Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County due to an inmate uprising.

There was also a memo circulated by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the DOCCS, advising prison superintendents to effectively cut 30 percent of staff by the end of the month, though the DOCCS has since said that that would mostly apply to vacant positions.

There was also a memo circulated by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the DOCCS, advising prison superintendents to effectively cut 30 percent of staff by the end of the month, though the DOCCS has since said that that would mostly apply to vacant positions.

Well, first and foremost, they want prison reform legislation called the HALT Act to be repealed. That went into effect in 2022, and it mandates what proponents say are more humane alternatives to solitary confinement, while also limiting which inmates can be placed in solitary at all. Officers and their supporters say the legislation has not worked and it's made prisons less safe for everyone.

Well, first and foremost, they want prison reform legislation called the HALT Act to be repealed. That went into effect in 2022, and it mandates what proponents say are more humane alternatives to solitary confinement, while also limiting which inmates can be placed in solitary at all. Officers and their supporters say the legislation has not worked and it's made prisons less safe for everyone.

They've cited DOCCS stats saying that since the HALT Act was implemented, there's been a 169% increase in inmate-on-inmate assaults, a 76% rise in inmate-on-staff assaults, and a 32% bump in contraband cases. Officers have made it very clear that they want changes to be made to guarantee their safety.

They've cited DOCCS stats saying that since the HALT Act was implemented, there's been a 169% increase in inmate-on-inmate assaults, a 76% rise in inmate-on-staff assaults, and a 32% bump in contraband cases. Officers have made it very clear that they want changes to be made to guarantee their safety.

Those on strike have generally refrained from speaking to the media out of fear of retribution, but some have taken to message boards to voice their concerns. For example, a woman named Sarah Tompkins said that while she was working at Green Haven Correctional Facility last year, an inmate tackled her to the floor and ripped out her hair. She provided photos of her injuries.

Those on strike have generally refrained from speaking to the media out of fear of retribution, but some have taken to message boards to voice their concerns. For example, a woman named Sarah Tompkins said that while she was working at Green Haven Correctional Facility last year, an inmate tackled her to the floor and ripped out her hair. She provided photos of her injuries.

A male officer also shared photos of on-the-job injuries, writing, quote, I got punched in the face three times in a 30-day span. Republican State Senator Pamela Helming said that earlier this month, a female officer at Groveland Correctional Facility was sitting at her desk when an inmate attacked her. She was choked, punched and kicked in the face.

A male officer also shared photos of on-the-job injuries, writing, quote, I got punched in the face three times in a 30-day span. Republican State Senator Pamela Helming said that earlier this month, a female officer at Groveland Correctional Facility was sitting at her desk when an inmate attacked her. She was choked, punched and kicked in the face.

And a retired female officer said that she was sexually assaulted by an inmate in 2022 and never returned to work.

And a retired female officer said that she was sexually assaulted by an inmate in 2022 and never returned to work.

So Hochul sued officers for the strike and over the weekend she directed state troopers to serve papers to hundreds of officers so far, threatening them with arrest. Here's Hochul at a press conference on Tuesday.

So Hochul sued officers for the strike and over the weekend she directed state troopers to serve papers to hundreds of officers so far, threatening them with arrest. Here's Hochul at a press conference on Tuesday.

The deputy secretary of public safety added, quote, we will go and catch every single one of them until they return to work. Now, the governor has deployed 6500 National Guard members to run the prisons during the strike. She's also working to consolidate inmates, putting more inmates inside each prison due to the lack of coverage.