Nearly two dozen female correction officers from across New York attended a meeting of the NYS Legislative Women’s Caucus in Albany on Monday April 17th. The purpose of the meeting was for lawmakers to hear firsthand from these officers how the HALT Act has negatively impacted them and their fellow brothers and sisters of NYSCOPBA. These brave women shared their personal experiences and stories, some extremely painful, to set the record straight that the HALT Act only emboldens the vicious predators that lurk in our facilities and does not make prisons safer like the advocates would have everyone believe. The response by State lawmakers who were in attendance was one of support, a promise that they would share these horrific stories with their colleagues, and endorse legislation that would improve working conditions for staff. It’s through efforts like this, where lawmakers can hear directly from NYSCOPBA members who patrol the hallways and cell blocks, that we can accomplish meaningful change and restore some semblance of order and safety back into our facilities.
