Assemblymen Phil Palmesano and John Lemondes joined fellow Assembly Republicans at a press conference to voice support for legislation that would amend New York’s HALT Act in an effort to improve safety inside state correctional facilities and address staffing challenges across the prison system.
The legislation, co-sponsored by Palmesano, seeks to revise disciplinary policies and give the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision greater flexibility in managing inmate behavior. Supporters say the proposal mirrors recommendations made by a HALT Committee that included representatives from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Division of Criminal Justice Services and several labor organizations representing correctional employees.
Those organizations include the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, the Civil Service Employees Association, Council 82 and the Public Employees Federation.
The proposed changes include expanding the types of misconduct eligible for segregated confinement, revising definitions to align with violent felony offenses under state penal law and allowing short-term segregated confinement for repeated disruptive behavior that does not qualify for disciplinary confinement.
The bill would also reduce subjectivity in determining rioting or escape-related offenses, allow short-term protective custody in segregated confinement when no safe housing alternative is available and give DOCCS greater flexibility in administering out-of-cell programming and managing repeat offenders. It would also expand considerations related to good-time allowances for incarcerated individuals.
Palmesano said the proposed reforms are necessary to address safety concerns that have emerged since the HALT Act was implemented.
Lawmakers cited statistics showing inmate-on-inmate assaults increased significantly in recent years, while assaults on correctional staff have also risen. Some reports claim assaults on correctional officers have increased by more than 76 percent since HALT restrictions took effect.
Republican lawmakers also pointed to a recent incident at Auburn Correctional Facility as an example of the dangers facing correctional staff. Earlier this month, a 49-year-old inmate serving a 20-years-to-life sentence allegedly attacked an officer with a makeshift weapon after being released from his cell for the evening meal. Four additional officers were injured while responding to the incident and restraining the inmate.
According to state data, inmate-on-staff assaults increased from 1,490 incidents in 2022 to 2,072 in 2024, while inmate-on-inmate assaults rose from 1,474 to 2,984 during the same period.
Lemondes said the proposed legislation is intended to prioritize the safety of correctional officers and civilian staff while ensuring violent incidents inside prisons are addressed and prevented.
The legislation is currently under consideration in the New York State Assembly.
