On Wednesday, February 19th, Governor Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard to assist at state-run prisons as thousands of corrections officers engaged in an illegal strike, disrupting operations across New York’s correctional facilities.
The walkout has affected at least 30 of the state’s 42 prisons. Officers are demanding better pay, increased staffing, and a rollback of recent prison reforms. The New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) has acknowledged that the strike is unlawful and said it did not authorize the job action.
Hochul announced that 3,500 National Guard troops had begun reporting for duty. They assist with essential tasks such as distributing meals and medication and maintaining order within the prisons.
“They’ve already been deployed and are ready to stabilize the situation,” Hochul said in a video address. “I am directing everyone involved in these unlawful strikes to stop these actions immediately. Legal action has already commenced to ensure compliance.”
The governor’s office obtained a court order under the state’s Taylor Law, which prohibits public sector strikes and allows for penalties against striking employees. Under the law, striking guards could face fines or other disciplinary action.
Corrections officers have cited unsafe working conditions, long hours due to staffing shortages, and policies limiting the use of solitary confinement as key reasons for the strike. Some officers have reported regularly working 16-—to 24-hour shifts, calling it a security risk.
The strike comes amid tensions over recent incidents in state prisons, including the death of inmate David Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. Video footage showed corrections officers beating Brooks while he was handcuffed. His death was ruled a homicide, and Hochul later ordered the firing of staff involved. A special prosecutor is expected to provide an update on the case Thursday.
Families of incarcerated individuals have expressed concern over the impact of the strike, with reports of lockdowns limiting access to medical care, parole hearings, and legal visits. Some have drawn comparisons to the 1971 Attica prison uprising, where National Guard troops used deadly force against inmates.
Hochul has defended her administration’s handling of corrections, staffing, and safety, pointing to recent pay raises, hiring efforts, and security improvements such as body scanners to prevent contraband.
