Senator Patrick M. Gallivan has expressed concern over a decision by the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to release certain state prison inmates early. This decision was made to manage an ongoing staffing crisis in state facilities, according to Gallivan.
It has been reported that prison superintendents have been asked to create a list of eligible inmates for early release, potentially numbering in the hundreds. The staffing problems have worsened after approximately 2,000 correction officers were dismissed for participating in a wildcat strike. This protest was against mandatory overtime and a state law limiting solitary confinement, which they believe compromises safety inside the prisons.
Senator Gallivan stated, “The decision to make hundreds of inmates eligible for early release to address the current staffing crisis in our prisons raises serious concerns about public safety.” He suggested that the shortage stems from dismissals under the state’s Taylor Law, which prohibits strikes by public employees but offers penalties short of termination. “Instead of releasing inmates, the state can immediately address the staffing concerns by re-hiring the fired correction officers who want their jobs back,” he noted.
The Taylor Law involves penalties such as loss of pay and fines for violations, although it does not necessitate firing. To replace the correction officers, the state has deployed National Guard members to prison facilities, who are reportedly costing over $100 million monthly, despite not being trained for this work.
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