State Senator Robert Rolison, District 39 | Official U.S. Senate headshot
State Senator Robert Rolison, District 39 | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Repealing the HALT Act, which limits segregated confinement and eliminates it for certain groups, is a primary demand from striking correctional officers in New York. Republican state Senator Rob Rolison, a member of the Crime, Crime Victims and Corrections Committee, expressed openness to discussing this issue.
“We need to have a review at the very least as to what is going on related to HALT, related to the situation in these facilities,” Rolison stated.
Rolison also highlighted that pension issues contribute to workforce shortages statewide. He noted that incentives previously attracting workers to challenging positions have diminished in tiers 5 and 6. “How does this system work when you don’t have those people there? It doesn’t work well, and we’re seeing it firsthand,” he said.
As budget discussions continue, Rolison stressed that collaboration between the state Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul is necessary. The governor oversees the Department of Corrections and must present a plan for integrating any legislative changes into the budget process.
“We need to hear from this governor on what she wants to see. These are her employees. She is the chief executive of this state,” Rolison added.
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