There appears to be a growing rift between state Gov. Kathy Hochul and the union that represents corrections officers across the state.

New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc. members this week rallied in Comstock to denounce the closing of the Great Meadow Correctional Facility. During that event, union President Chris Summers spoke about the “troubling trend” of shuttering locations and staffing issues.

“Instead of closing prisons, the state should be focused on how to recruit new officers, retain theexperience of existing officers and improve the safety in every single prison,” he said. “The safety of those brave men and women certainly should never be at the expense of saving money to balance the budget. You can’t put a value on protecting the men and women who protect us.”

In addition, Sullivan Correctional Facility in Fallsburg also is targeted for closure. Locally, there are facilities in Collins and Brocton.

In the past year, the union notes the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has lost 1,600 officers through attrition, retirements, and resignations. In

in the same time period, the number of inmates has increased by 2,100 across the state. Assaults on staff are occurring at historic levels.

At the current pace, the union said, assaults on staff will increase 30% from 2023 and a 100 percent increase in the last five years.

Summers also responded to Hochul’s statement on recruitment last week. He made it clear that the proposed idea of raising the age of eligibility for becoming a Correction Officer does not directly address the pressing issues faced by correctional staff, especially since there is no age restriction in New York state other than being 21 years of age or older to apply to become Correction Officers.

Summers emphasized that if New York state wanted to make meaningful changes to DOCCS, they should listen to the brave men and women working in these facilities who are the front line staff within the correctional system.

He highlighted the long-standing calls from NYSCOPBA for meaningful changes, including raising pay rates and improving safety within prisons through revisions to the HALT Law. Summers stated “Our members are being forced to work unprecedented amounts of mandatory overtime which at times includes shifts as long as 24 hours straight.”

Overall, Summers called for a comprehensive approach that prioritizes making practical solutions that address the underlying issues within the correctional system to create a safer and more effective work environment for all involved.