Local leaders, COs and families rally outside Clinton Correctional

DANNEMORA | Local officials, correctional officers and their families rallied outside Clinton Correctional Facility Aug. 31 calling for a repeal of the HALT Act and for stronger safety measures inside the facility. The rally joined numerous others at facilities across the state in recent days as North Country lawmakers, New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association representatives, officers and loved ones call for a repeal of the measure that brought a significant documented spike in prison violence across the state. The Restore Safety in our Facilities Rally took to Cook Street in Dannemora Wednesday afternoon as northern officers and families again called for Albany action and a repeal of the measure- a move supported by North Country lawmakers on the state and federal level. Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) stood beside officers outside Maggy's Pharmacy and listened to their concerns as he again voiced serious concerns with the current state of New York prisons and the HALT Act. "Today I joined correctional officers across the North Country at Clinton Correction Facility to call for the full repeal of HALT. Correctional facilities across New York State continue to see a substantial increase in violent attacks since the implementation of HALT this spring. I voted against this legislation and have been advocating for its repeal due to concerns this would happen," said Jones, a former corrections officer himself. "I have been in consistent contact with the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association about this rise in both inmate-on staff- and inmate-on-inmate assaults, and it is beyond frustrating with the lack of action by New York State to address this. Any inmate that is a perpetrator of an assault needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and there needs to be effective deterrents to keep these assaults from happening in the first place. Correctional officers and staff deserve a safe working environment, without the constant threat of being attacked. New York State must take action now to repeal HALT to ensure the safety of correctional officers and staff." As dozens of officers, retirees and supporters called for improved safety and work conditions inside the maximum-security facility and others across the state, NYSCOPBA representatives thanked Jones, Assemblyman Matt Simpson, Sen. Dan Stec and Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie for their continued support in advocating against HALT and prosecution of all ensuing violence. According to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), violence in New York State correctional facilities has risen more than 35 percent since the HALT Act was enacted April 1. Inmate-on-staff violence has increased nearly 40 percent, while inmate-on-inmate violence has shown a 30 percent increase. The single-week high of inmate-on-staff assaults was set during a week in late May as 41 staff members were assaulted. Coupled with the spike in assaults are declining officer recruitment numbers and increased retirements, bringing what many call a dangerous growing crisis and climate of violence inside facilities across the state. Recently, NYSCOPBA President Michael Powers said "The State Legislature must take the blinders off and recognize HALT for what it is, an ill-conceived piece of legislation that has only embolden the inmate population and made it more dangerous for staff and it will only get worse unless changes are made."

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Local leaders, COs and families rally outside Clinton Correctional

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