Governor Committed to Safe, Secure Correctional Facilities and Has Ordered the Mobilization of the New York National Guard To Staff Facilities if Illegal Job Action Does Not End Tomorrow

Governor Has Provided Significant Support To Correction Officers, Including Increased Salaries and Benefits, Contraband Crackdowns, and Expanded Recruitment Efforts

Governor Kathy Hochul on Feb 18th, announced preparations to utilize the New York National Guard to protect correction officers who are currently on the job, individuals in DOCCS care and the communities surrounding these correctional facilities. The Governor also directed Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel Martuscello and senior Administration officials to meet with leaders from the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association to call for an end to the unlawful work stoppage that is causing significant public safety concerns across New York.

“The illegal and unlawful actions being taken by a number of correction officers must end immediately," Governor Hochul said. "We will not allow these individuals to jeopardize the safety of their colleagues, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities. I have directed my Administration to meet with union leadership to resolve this situation and have also ordered the National Guard be mobilized to secure our correctional facilities in the event it is not resolved by tomorrow. Correction officers do difficult work under challenging circumstances, and I have consistently fought for them to have better pay and working conditions and will continue to do so.”

Governor Hochul is preparing to deploy members of the New York National Guard to DOCCS facilities tomorrow if the unlawful work stoppage does not end, and will begin to take appropriate disciplinary action as necessary. The Governor has also directed her Counsel to work with the Office of the Attorney General on legal mechanisms such as the Taylor Law which will compel employees to return to work.

DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III said, “Earlier on Feb 18th, we met with NYSCOPBA President Summers and his Executive Board to discuss a path forward to returning all facilities to normal operations and ending this illegal strike. The safety and security of the staff and incarcerated population is paramount to me. I value the hard work and commitment of the men and women at DOCCS who have had to sacrifice time with their families due to the current staffing shortage. However, this illegal job action involving NYSCOPBA members is causing irreparable harm to the operations of the department and jeopardizing the safety and security of their co-workers within these facilities. We will continue to develop strategies to reduce assaults and to bring more staff on board with NYSCOPBA, the recognized bargaining agency for correction officers and sergeants. There is always room for progress and for disagreements and we welcome continued dialogue with the union at the table. At this time, I am urging all those on strike to end this job action.”

Governor Hochul has worked with NYSCOPBA to improve salaries, benefits and working conditions for corrections officers. In March 2024, the union agreed to a collective bargaining agreement with the State of New York to improve working conditions for corrections officers:

• Increased salaries and starting pay for new employees by $6,500.
  
  
• Increased Correction Officer location-based pay by $500 to $1,000 per Officer for downstate assignments.
  
  
• Increased Correction Officer hazardous duty pay from $200 to $1,075.
  
  
• Provides 12 weeks of fully-paid parental leave.

Governor Hochul has also fought successfully to pass new laws and implement administrative changes to protect corrections officers. This includes advancing legislation to authorize the use of body scanners in correctional facilities and securing funding to procure the deployment of this technology. The Governor also supported DOCCS implementation of the vendor package program leading to large reductions in contraband entering our correctional facilities.

Governor Hochul has also expanded efforts to increase recruitment and hiring of new correction officers. This includes:

• Introducing Article 7 language in this year’s Executive Budget to amend the public officers law, in relation to residency requirements for certain positions as a correction officer, allowing recruiting from other states which would greatly expand the number of potential applicants.
  
  
• DOCCS has contracted with OGS Media Services on a large-scale social media recruitment campaign that includes a multi-channel approach including social media, multicultural digital, streaming audio, video and static ads to better familiarize the public on DOCCS mission.
  
  
• DOCCS Statewide Recruitment Unit has been running Recruitment Centers in various locations and currently is operating Recruitment Centers in the Destiny USA mall (Syracuse) and Champlain Centre mall (Plattsburgh).
  
  
• In 2024, DOCCS recruiters attended 1,169 career fairs along with 54 multi day events.
  
  
• DOCCS launched an advanced placement initiative to attract applicants with Correction Officer experience into our Correction Officer ranks at a pay rate commensurate to their experience.
  
  
• In July 2024, the Department launched “CNY200”, a regional hiring incentive promoting direct placement of Correction officer recruits to vacancies at Auburn, Cayuga, Marcy, Mid-State and Mohawk Correctional Facilities, upon completion of the training academy.
  
  
• In August 2024, DOCCS expanded the regional recruitment initiative to Chemung, Dutchess and Franklin Counties which include Bare Hill, Elmira, Fishkill, Franklin, Green Haven and Upstate Correctional Facility.
  
  
• Due to the success of this initiative it was expanded in November 2024 to Clinton and Ulster Counties which include Altona, Clinton, Eastern, Shawangunk, Ulster and Wallkill Correctional Facility.
  
  
• In addition to continued efforts by the DOCCS recruitment team to pursue candidates for civilian positions at career fairs and community events, DOCCS has been very successful with recruitment via the HELPs program launched by the Department of Civil Service in April 2023.