February 2, 2024 — Governor Hochul proposed in her executive budget that the legislature give her approval to close up to five New York State correctional facilities with just 90-days’ notice. That would be a drastic change from the current statute, which requires 12-months’ notice.
At a rally held at the State Capitol on January 31 and organized by Assemblyman Chris Tague, PEF Vice President Randi DiAntonio spoke against fast-tracking any closures.
“Staffing is a problem at every agency across the state,” DiAntonio said. “Instead of proposing closures, why don’t we propose ways to bolster recruitment and retention?”
Low staffing levels at the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) are at least part of the reason why up to five facilities could be closed. PEF represents employees at correctional facilities who provide vocational, habilitation, medical and mental health services.
DiAntonio said that the fast-track closure of these facilities is disruptive, not only to staff and PEF members, but also to communities and the incarcerated population as well.
“The governor’s proposal to go from 12 months to 90-days is unnecessary, it is ill-conceived, it is ill-advised,” she said. “Fast tracking these decisions hurts the staff, it hurts the incarcerated population, it hurts their treatment and rehabilitation regimen.”
There are safety concerns as well.
“Moving hundreds of the incarcerated population into other settings is going to create overcrowding,” DiAntonio said. “We already know that it increases assaults, and it increases violence.”
“PEF members are dedicated to improving outcomes for New Yorkers,” she said. ‘They can work in a lot of other settings. They choose to work with this population because they care, but they’re not going to come to work if they don’t feel safe and the State is not going to be able to recruit and retain skilled professionals. People are not going to come into a job that they think they’re going to lose in 90 days.”
PEF asks all concerned members to sign on to its letter-writing campaign opposing the fast-track closures.