Honorable Kathy Hochul

Governor of the State of New York

Executive Chamber

NY State Capital Building

Albany, NY 12224

Subject: Urgent Petition for Relief and Changes in the NY State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

Dear Governor Hochul,

We are reaching out to you today with a petition in the hopes that you can provide much-needed relief and implement necessary changes within the NY State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The current Correction Officer staff have been pushed to their breaking point. These dedicated individuals are the backbone of the agency and have recently endured horrendous working conditions. Employees are being forced to work mandated overtime, often working 24 hours straight. This poses a significant safety risk for the employees, incarcerated individuals, facility, agency, and the public. Such conditions are simply unsustainable at any level.

Governor, it is known that you value the importance of family. However, the working conditions currently in place go against your goals by tearing families apart and causing undue stress in the workplace and at home. Mandated overtime policies have been implemented that take away employees' regular days off, and they are often forced to work additional shifts on these same days off. This is an unacceptable situation. In most cases, it has created extreme hardship for families, leaving them with nobody to get their children to and from school. In some instances, employees were forced to relinquish custody of their children to ensure someone could fulfill this responsibility while they are forced to be at work.

The employees should not be held accountable for the agency's recruitment and retention policies as they have no control over hiring decisions. If changes are not made to improve retention, experienced staff will undoubtedly seek employment outside of DOCCS. Additionally, the recent announcement of facility closures has further destabilized the work environment. Threatening employees with potential relocation to another facility, which may also face closure, only compounds the stress and upheaval experienced by these employees and their families.

Another major concern is the implementation of H.A.L.T. (The Humane Alternative to Long Term Confinement). Contrary to its name, this policy has proven to be anything but humane. Both incarcerated individuals and employees have suffered injuries as a result. The statistics speak for themselves, with 1,668 incarcerated individuals having been assaulted by their fellow inmates and 1,280 assaults committed by incarcerated individuals against staff as of August 1, 2024. Such alarming numbers demand immediate action. Moreover, the policy has made incarcerated individuals feel less safe, as those who abide by the rules are threatened by those who do not. For example, gangs pose a constant threat like charging for basic needs, activities and participating in daily routines. Non-compliance often leads to violence. This puts both incarcerated individuals and responding officers at risk.

In summary, Governor Hochul, we implore you to hear our pleas and take action. The issues highlighted here are just a fraction of the daily challenges faced within the NY State Department of Corrections and Community Services. Only you have the power to bring about the necessary changes, and time is of the essence before lives are lost.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter