Amanda Prestigiacomo

Well, first and foremost, they want prison reform legislation called the HALT Act to be repealed.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.

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.

She's also taken away striking officers health insurance and the DOCCS is docking two days of pay for every day an officer remains on strike.

She's also taken away striking officers health insurance and the DOCCS is docking two days of pay for every day an officer remains on strike.

Well, mediation between the two sides began on Monday with a reported offer from the state for two times the hourly rate for overtime, the nixing of that controversial staff reduction memo, and suspension to certain provisions in the HALT Act. Officers, though, are reportedly skeptical of promised concessions due to Hochul's comments and actions. And so far, no deal has been reached.

Well, mediation between the two sides began on Monday with a reported offer from the state for two times the hourly rate for overtime, the nixing of that controversial staff reduction memo, and suspension to certain provisions in the HALT Act. Officers, though, are reportedly skeptical of promised concessions due to Hochul's comments and actions. And so far, no deal has been reached.

You're welcome.

You're welcome.

Yeah, so the commission has 180 days from the day the order was signed to submit a strategy to make our children healthy again. But changes from the private sector already seem to be in motion.