East Hudson Valley News

Senator Rob Rolison, representing New York's 39th District, is urging the Governor and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to reinstate correction officers who were previously terminated. Rolison raised concerns about the impact of staff shortages on safety within state prisons.

In a communication addressed to DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III, Senator Rolison, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, alongside Senator Dean Murray, emphasized the urgency of the staffing issues. They noted that the situation has deteriorated with the dismissal of experienced correction officers.

Rolison and Murray highlighted worries about the state's current approach of considering early release for inmates as a solution to the shortage. They called for action to "prioritize the needs of our corrections system" and to "put the safety of the public first." The Senators are urging that previously terminated officers be pardoned and that the DOCCS be empowered to rehire them.

Senator Rolison stated, "The Governor’s decision to terminate trained correction officers who spoke out for safer working conditions has endangered lives, destabilized our facilities, and now puts untrained National Guardsmen and women in harm’s way." He added, "This is a crisis of leadership that compromises public safety and puts both staff and the incarcerated at serious risk. These men and women are experienced professionals who chose public service and deserve a second chance — something the Governor has vocally championed through laws like the Clean Slate Act. Safety is at stake in our facilities, and we cannot afford any delay."

For more information about Senator Rolison and his advocacy efforts in the Hudson Valley, the public is encouraged to visit his official website or contact his office.