Buffalo Ledger

Senator Patrick Gallivan has sponsored a resolution designating May 5-11 as Correctional Officers' Week in New York State. The Senate welcomed representatives of NYSCOPBA and Council 82, which collectively represent more than 16,000 correctional officers across the state.

"These dedicated officers and employees are responsible for the care, custody, and security of over 30,000 inmates," said Senator Gallivan. "Their work is demanding, difficult, and often dangerous. We thank them for their service."

The Resolution reads:

BY: Senator GALLIVAN        

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 5-11, 2024, as Correctional Officers and Employees Week in the State of New York

WHEREAS, The operation of correctional facilities represents a crucial component of the criminal justice system in the United States,and correctional personnel play a vital role in protecting the rights of the public to be safeguarded from criminal activity; and  

WHEREAS, There are over 16,178 corrections officers and employees in the State of New York who oversee the State's correctional facilities and are responsible for the care, custody, and maintenance of more than31,329 inmates charged to their care; and  

WHEREAS, To carry out their responsibilities, corrections officers work under demanding circumstances and face danger in their daily work lives, which sometimes results in the loss of life; and  

WHEREAS, In 1984, former President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation5187 which designated the first full week in May as "National Correctional Officers Week" in honor of corrections officers who put their lives on the line every day to protect the public from dangerous criminals and to help prisoners work toward becoming productive members of society; and  

WHEREAS, In 1996 Congress expanded and renamed this special week "National Correctional Officers and Employees Week" in recognition of all those employed with city, state and federal correctional departments; and  

WHEREAS, In accordance with the federal government's recognition of the indispensable contributions that corrections officers make every day to protect our citizens from harm, it is proper and befitting for the State of New York to honor all corrections officers and employees; now, therefore, be it  

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 5-11, 2024, as Correctional Officers and Employees Week in the State of New York; and be it further  

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.