SENATOR WALCZYK STANDS WITH CORRECTION OFFICERS

Senator Walczyk calls on Governor Hochul to stop ignoring the pressing needs of correction officers and to take immediate action to ensure their safety and well-being. Correctional Officers (COs) are advocating for essential and simple improvements, including the implementation of body scanners, vendor secure mail options, and the repeal of the HALT Act—simple yet critical requests that have been overlooked and ignored by the Senator Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Carl Heastie, and Governor Hochul. 

 

In response to the ongoing unrest, Senator Walczyk issued the following statement: 

 

“It is no surprise that we find ourselves in this situation. Time and again, Corrections Officers have raised their voices for support and necessary reforms, yet their pleas have gone unanswered. Instead of prioritizing the safety of our COs  across the state, Governor Hochul and her colleagues have enacted policies that hinder their ability to do their jobs effectively and safely. 

Our Corrections Officers face life-threatening conditions every day in an environment that has descended into chaos. The absence of meaningful reform has put them in harm's way.  It is high time we prioritize their safety and stop coddling criminals,” Walczyk emphasized.

 

Senator Walczyk has a proven track record of advocating for Corrections Officers during his more than six years in the State Legislature. He has opposed measures granting the Governor the authority to close state prisons, called for the implementation of a secure vendor program, and championed the end of double-bunking in facilities. Additionally, he sponsored legislation to place drug-sniffing dogs in every state prison in New York. Walczyk is also a cosponsor of S.2656, which seeks to repeal the HALT Act—a law he opposed that limits the tools available to COs for maintaining order within correctional facilities. 

Senator Walczyk remains committed to fighting for the rights and safety of Corrections Officers, ensuring that they have the support they need to carry out their essential duties. Senator Walczyk represents 4 correctional facilities in his District, Gouverneur, Riverview, Cape Vincent and Hale Creek.