GLENS FALLS — After weeks of corrections officers striking added to already existing staffing issues in New York correctional facilities, some incarcerated individuals may be released early if they meet certain criteria.
A memo dated March 31, from DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III calls for moving some individuals from the department’s confinement facilities into residential treatment status. The potential pool will be made up of individuals who meet certain requirements, such as those who have less then 110 days remaining on their sentence, who are not serving a sentence for more serious crimes such as A-1 or A-2 non-drug offenses, or a class B through E violent offenses, or a sex offense and who will have approved housing if they are released.
“In view of the current staffing crisis, and in order to have the appropriate balance between the safety and well-being of those working and residing in DOCCS correctional facilities and public safety, it is appropriate that I, as commissioner, exercising my authority pursuant to Correction Law Section 73, to move individuals from the Department’s general confinement facilities into residential treatment outcome status,” Martuscello stated in the memo.
The memo comes after about the state lost about 2,000 if its corrections officers in relation to last month’s strikes which were not union approved.
The memo states that due to the large number of potentially eligible individuals, multiple approval lists will be issued on an ongoing basis.
A number of state politicians have spoken out against the state’s recent actions taken as a result of last month’s strikes.
“This move is a slap in the face to correction officers, who went on strike for 22 days to call for better conditions, and to all law-abiding New Yorkers,” said State Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, in a statement. “It’s more clear than ever that DOCCS isn’t run by Commissioner Martuscello or Governor Hochul; it’s being run by the inmates and radical, pro-criminal social justice advocates.”
State Sen. Jim Tedisco, R-Ballston Lake, called it a “dumb idea,” and an insult to victims of crimes.
“I thought it was an April Fool’s joke when I first read that the governor is planning for the early release of convicted felons in our state prison system due to understaffing — a dangerous situation she created when she refused to provide our correction officers with safe working conditions and then fired more than 2,000 of them.”