New York Shakes Up Corrections System: 2,000 Prison Guards Dismissed for Striking—What it Means for Incarceration and Public Safety

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York has laid off over 2,000 prison guards who didn’t return to work after a wildcat strike lasting 22 days. The strike put a strain on the state’s correctional system, leading to the involvement of the National Guard to help keep operations running.

Commissioner Daniel Martuscello announced during a virtual briefing that the illegal strike has officially ended. Although the number of guards who returned fell short of the 85% needed for a new deal, the state will still honor the agreement’s overtime provisions and some other benefits.

The strike began on February 17, driven by guards’ frustrations over working conditions. Inmates have raised concerns about deteriorating conditions in prisons since the walkout began. Additionally, the death of a 22-year-old inmate at a facility near Utica is now under investigation, further complicating the situation.

Martuscello confirmed that the state will continue to employ the National Guard at prisons while they launch a recruitment drive to fill the staffing gap. The number of available security staff has dropped from about 13,500 to around 10,000 due to the strike.

Guards who didn’t return by the 6:45 a.m. deadline on Monday received termination letters. Those who had no preapproved medical leave were affected immediately. The strike violated state law, and the guards’ union did not endorse it. Previous attempts to resolve the issue with the guards had failed to bring enough staff back to work.

The recent deal allows for a 90-day suspension of a law restricting solitary confinement. Guards will now work 12-hour shifts, and the Department of Corrections will not discipline those who returned by the deadline.

Concerns have grown as multiple inmate deaths have occurred since the start of the strike, creating questions about the conditions during this period. One notable case involves the death of Messiah Nantwi at the Mid-State Correctional Facility. The Onondaga County District Attorney is investigating possible links between correctional staff and Nantwi’s death.

This incident is part of a broader scrutiny of inmate treatment in New York’s prisons. Recently, six prison guards faced murder charges related to the death of another inmate, Robert Brooks, in a separate case at the Marcy Correctional Facility. The state’s correctional system is under significant pressure to address safety and staffing concerns amid these investigations.

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