Violence in state prisons has reached another record high, and there are no signs this growing crisis will slow down anytime soon. Inmate-on-inmate assaults surpassed 2023 levels in September. The Mohawk Correctional Facility just saw a 12-day spike in altercations involving weapons, drugs, and multiple injured officers. It’s painfully obvious the havoc that progressive criminal-justice […]
Violence in state prisons has reached another record high, and there are no signs this growing crisis will slow down anytime soon. Inmate-on-inmate assaults surpassed 2023 levels in September.
The Mohawk Correctional Facility just saw a 12-day spike in altercations involving weapons, drugs, and multiple injured officers. It’s painfully obvious the havoc that progressive criminal-justice “reforms” have caused is impacting prisons, putting all parties in danger.
Considering the circumstances, it is not surprising the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) is sounding the alarm. According to state data, assaults on prison staff have already jumped more than 62 percent compared to all of 2021; inmate-on-inmate assaults over that same period have risen 138 percent.
“We have made it clear to the Governor, State Legislature, and [Department of Corrections and Community Supervision] that this system is unsustainable, and the safety inside the facilities are being neglected by state leaders,” the NYSCOPBA said in a recent statement.
The state’s poorly crafted HALT Act is one of the biggest culprits preventing prison staff from protecting inmates and officers, alike. The law, painted as a way to improve conditions for prisoners, severely restricts segregated confinement for even the most dangerous inmates and subsequently limits correctional officers’ ability to maintain order. With a lack of effective disciplinary actions among inmates, it’s no surprise chaos in correctional facilities is on the rise.
As we prepare to begin a new legislative session in January, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and Gov. Kathy Hochul to rethink this failing policy. They need to look no further than the clear and obvious spike in prison violence for justification to repeal the law. The men and women working in correctional institutions are public employees. It’s unconscionable that through misguided regulation, state officials have created more dangerous and violent conditions for this dedicated workforce.
New Yorkers are increasingly unsafe across the board. From our broken bail and immigration laws to how we treat incarcerated individuals and those charged with protecting them, New York State is failing. In 2025, we need to refocus our public-safety priorities to restore law and order, and protect the people who have made a commitment to protect all of us.
William (Will) A. Barclay, 55, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses all of Oswego County, as well as parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.
Will Barclay
