DOCCS announces stronger visitor scanning procedures

ALBANY | On Sunday, as mass strikes continued across the state, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision announced long-sought changes to its visitor scanning procedures to combat rising levels of dangerous contraband. Word of the change- one aspect of the improved safety and security measures being sought by striking officers- came just days after the official mediation consent agreement as Commissioner Daniel Martuscello stopped at several northern facilities still under lockdown with significantly strained staffing. Officers and northern lawmakers have pushed for mandatory use of the already available body scanners in recent months as instances of contraband continued to climb, culminating in several widespread chemical exposures that left dozens of officers and incarcerated sick and hospitalized. In the Sunday evening announcement, DOCCS said "Over the past few weeks, Commissioner Martuscello has had a number of conversations with staff about the use of body scanners. There are new steps being taken to help make the facilities safer from contraband." Visitors will now be subjected to body image scanning in order to gain access to facilities and visitation. Body scans were previously voluntary. If a visitor declines being scanned, they will be further search processed and if cleared, limited to strict non-contact visits. Many applauded word of the change but wondered why it took so long to implement. Despite Thursday's late-night mediation consent agreement, thousands of officers and sergeants have remained on strike saying it failed to address overwhelming safety and security concerns and offered no long-term solutions toward change. Many viewed the stronger scanning rules as a step in the right direction, but that more needs to be done. With a noticeably stronger presence outside some facilities Sunday, including Clinton Correctional in Dannemora, DOCCS also announced it would start termination notice procedures for officers considered AWOL for more than 11 consecutive days having failed to return by the return-to-work deadline. "Over the past 13 days, we were hopeful mediation and the subsequent consent award would end this illegal strike. We did not take any action during the mediation out of respect for our employees and their families. Today we are forced to take action to enforce our laws and collective bargaining agreement," DOCCS officials said of the notices expected through certified mail. Shortly before arriving to Clinton Correctional, where hundreds of officers from Clinton, Altona, Bare Hill, Upstate and Franklin gathered, DOCCS Commissioner Martuscello said "I've been talking to a lot of staff over the past weeks, yesterday I was on the road visiting facilities and will be traveling to several prisons again today to thnk those who continued to work and welcome back the staff that are returning to their facilities. "My message to you is this is the final push. Tomorrow, Monday, March 3, anyone who remains on strike will have their's and their department's healthcare removed retroactive to the first day they were AWOL, and you will not be eligible for COBRA. I want you to come back to work today. If you missed your shift, you should still report, and know that we will continue to have open dialogue on making facilities safer places to work." While a fraction of officers returned to work by midnight, thousands still vowed to hold the line and not return until more safety measures are in place, saying the money and job are not worth their health and lives or those of future generations of officers to come. Those striking say the state is in violation of state and federal laws in not providing a safe work environment and with handling aspects of the strike penalties. A renowned civil rights attorney is now involved as a mass rally is expected in Albany Tuesday and officers vow to keep fighting. Officers are also pursuing legal avenues to have the termination deadline extended as the situation continues to evolve. After the updated body screening policies were announced, Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) said "On January 30, I visited Upstate Correctional Facility after an unknown chemical exposure and met with the superintendent, officers and civilian staff. During this meeting, I learned that body scanner use is optional for inmates and their visitors and on February 4, I introduced Senate bill S.4422 to close this loophole and make body scanner use mandatory. After introducing this bill, I wrote to both Governor Hochul and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, requesting this measure be included in the upcoming state budget. "The main reason correction officers across the state are on strike is that they are forced to endure extraordinarily unsafe working conditions. Making body scanner use mandatory for inmates and visitors is a crucial step in the effort to make correctional facilities safer. "The governor and DOCCS' decision to make body scanners mandatory for visitors during the ongoing state of emergency is a welcome first step that myself, officers and other advocates for prison safety have called for. But a temporary change in policy and executive order is exactly that, temporary and must go further. "Mandatory use of body scanners for visitors and inmates must become a permanent change in policy and that requires a legislative resolution. I urge the governor and Legislative leaders to either pass my legislation concerning body scanners or include analogous language in this year's state budget. It's clear that the governor and DOCCS know that this is the right thing to do and given the fraught situation, immediate action on my legislation is more necessary than ever."

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DOCCS announces stronger visitor scanning procedures

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