A wildcat strike by guards at New York's prisons, now in its second week, is causing alarm over deteriorating conditions behind bars. The strike, which was not approved by union officials, has led to National Guard troops being deployed to replace corrections officers who walked off the job.
Over the weekend, a 61-year-old inmate at Auburn Correctional Facility, serving a lengthy sentence for rape and burglary, was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead. While it's unclear if the staffing situation played a role in the inmate's death, concerns have been raised about disruptions in medical care for incarcerated individuals.
The Legal Aid Society reported that since the strike began, inmates across New York State have faced challenges accessing critical medical care and essential prescriptions, including vital medications like blood pressure medication and insulin shots.
Despite a court order for striking officers to return to work, the guards have not complied. In response, Governor Kathy Hochul deployed National Guard troops to maintain order in the prisons.
Mediation between state officials and the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, representing the guards, began on Monday. The guards are advocating for better pay, improved staffing levels, enhanced safety measures, and a reinstatement of solitary confinement as a disciplinary tool.
Assaults on both prison staff and incarcerated individuals have been on the rise, with a significant increase in violent incidents reported in recent years. Six guards were charged with murder in connection to the death of an inmate who was beaten at Marcy Correctional Facility.
Protests by over 100 corrections officers and supporters near the Coxsackie Correctional Facility highlighted the ongoing grievances, with demands for improved working conditions and safety standards.
The situation within the prisons remains tense, with inmates reporting lockdowns, limited services, and escalating tensions. The outcome of the mediation efforts and the resolution of the strike will have significant implications for both prison staff and incarcerated individuals in New York State.
