Kathy Hochul considers National Guard deployment amid prison guard strike
- A prison guard strike is disrupting operations in New York state prisons, with many officers refusing to report for duty across multiple facilities.
- Governor Kathy Hochul is considering deploying the National Guard to ensure safety and security amid the ongoing strike.
- The situation underscores the need for dialogue on correction officer demands and systemic prison reform.
In New York, a prison guard strike has escalated into a significant crisis, entering its third day as of February 19, 2025. The governor, Kathy Hochul, is threatening to deploy the National Guard to maintain order within correctional facilities, voicing concerns over the safety of staff, incarcerated individuals, and surrounding communities. The action follows reports of correction officers refusing to report for duty at 25 out of the 42 state prisons, demonstrating a widespread disruption in prison operations. Both state officials and union leaders acknowledge that the strike violates rules governing state employees, indicating a severe breach of conduct. The strike stems from demands made by correction officers, including calls for higher wages, stricter security protocols for prison visitors, and a reconsideration of reforms that limit solitary confinement practices. Hochul emphasizes that while she advocates for better pay and working conditions for correction officers, the current job action jeopardizes overall safety and order within the correctional system. She has initiated discussions with union leadership in hopes of resolving the situation swiftly. Hochul's administration has previously implemented measures to enhance salaries and benefits, as well as to secure additional protections against the influx of contraband. However, the strike poses an urgent threat to the operational integrity of correctional facilities, leading a department commissioner to urge an end to the illegal labor action. Hochul has stated that the safety and security of both staff and prisoners remain paramount amid these tensions. In the background of this situation is the recent uproar surrounding the death of Robert Brooks Sr., a 43-year-old inmate who was fatally beaten by corrections officers while restrained at the Marcy Correctional Facility. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised serious questions about the safety and treatment within prisons and highlighted the pressing need for reform in correctional practices. The combination of this recent incident and the ongoing strike illustrates the urgent need for systemic change in the New York prison system, sparking debates about funding, oversight, and treatment of incarcerated individuals.