No One Can Visit Prisons Now In New York State

The last few days have been quite rough for people who are associated with the New York State Prison system.

Last week, after a prison uprising at Collins Correctional Facility in Southern Erie County, the state prison was put in lockdown and has remained in lockdown since. Over the last few days since the incident has happened, the situation for inmates, correctional officers, and state leaders has continued to devolve as COs have gone on strike.

Earlier this week, Corrections Officers at multiple prisons went on strike. They are protesting the state's implementation of a law for prisons, the HALT Act, and general working conditions inside the state's 42 prisons. Current New York State law makes it illegal for some government workers, including prison guards, to strike, but that has not stopped hundreds of COs from walking off the job and picketing outside of the correctional facilities they work at.

Things have gotten to a point where New York Governor Kathy Hochul has threatened to send the National Guard into prisons if the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision isn't able to bring both prisoners and correctional officers back into compliance. That is on top of an order from the New York State Supreme Court ordering the guards to go back to work.

As things continue to take shape, the impact on prisons across the Empire State is starting to be felt by everyone who has a connection to them, including friends and families of inmates.

Inmates At All New York State Prisons Have Visitor Privileges Taken Away

According to the New York Post, a prison riot at Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg, New York, has forced the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to suspend visitation rights to all of New York's prisons. The report from The Post specifies that no guards or staffers were hurt during the late-night uprising, but this measure is being taken out of concern for the safety of everyone as prisons have less staffing due to the strike.

AFP via Getty Images

As the fourth day of strikes continues, taxpayers and residents all over New York are worried about how bad things are going to get. According to WKBW, NYSDOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello III has issued a memo with a Path to Restoring the Workforce in hopes of bringing the strike to an end.