Senator Gallivan Calls for Repeal of the HALT Act

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, (R-C, Elma) and members of the Senate Minority Conference today urged immediate action by Governor Hochul in response to recent prison strikes and called on her to use an Executive Order to repeal the HALT Act. 

Since last week, correction officers have been on strike in dozens of facilities throughout the state. The officers began the demonstrations in response to deteriorating work conditions, including understaffing, mandatory overtime, excessively long shifts, and polices – like the HALT Act – that have made their jobs more difficult and dangerous. A recent report from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, DOCCS, shows an 85% increase in the number of assaults from 2019 to 2024 on correction officers. 

“Corrections Officers have one of the most difficult jobs in law enforcement,” Senator Gallivan said. “Staffing shortages, mandatory overtime, the HALT Act and other policy changes are making an already dangerous environment even worse. The state has an obligation to ensure that correctional facilities are adequately staffed and that officers have the resources and tools necessary to keep everyone in our prisons safe. The state has failed in this responsibility.”

The HALT Act went into effect in 2022. Senator Gallivan voted against the measure because it severely restricts the use of segregated confinement for inmates who break the rules and engage in violent behavior. Hindering the ability to separate violent inmates from the general prison population eliminates an effective deterrent to dangerous behavior.

Immediate action from the Governor and the Legislature is necessary to restore safe working conditions, reverse these disastrous policies, and support the law enforcement professionals who keep our communities safe. 

“Everyone who lives, works, and visits our correctional facilities deserves a safe and secure environment,” Senator Gallivan stated. “It is time for the Executive and Legislature to listen to, and work with, the corrections professionals to ensure that is the case.”

Members of the Senate Minority Conference pointed to key proposals that could make an immediate impact on making correctional facilities safer for workers, visitors and inmates:

• S.2656: Repeals the HALT Act. 
   
• S.3087: Requires DOCCS to establish a contraband screening plan for correctional facilities, including the use of drug-detecting canines at the entrance of each correctional facility and the development of a third-party secure vendor mail program for packages received by inmates.  

• S.4422: Requires visitors to submit to body scanners before entering a correctional facility.  

 
Senators were joined by family members of Correction Officers during a news conference at the NY State Capitol on Monday. 

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