[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6034613,"mediaKeyId","5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e","parentId",5125944,"title","Lawmakers, advocates dispute whether HALT solitary‑confinement reforms were implemented as written","audioSeconds",1761,"startMs",689000,"endMs",2450000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e&start=689&end=2450","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e/thumbnail_689000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6034613/New-York/Lawmakers-advocates-dispute-whether-HALT-solitaryconfinement-reforms-were-implemented-as-written","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034613-053d79db435cc385b957ef04df40c31d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050709&Signature=gZj1iMPN0DktWtfGe6~S40PAg9jZc-XLaOXfyaiCzSo7wteGxlt9phgRxXrmjK9~tUHKb4IoHS5lPxzIcOc3X0RU3kS8q2An~lYZ9NIhOYcc1KBUPdhmB2Yc4nsP4buy73lhpGEAGt3UqsxwEfPtD35fm5gxMPhLYgY64EuzOn3E0wS6DtqPHvnBe38UYx0W7~u1KwQh7OFOisAWvdZQIXWxl6ExK40OF70XGBlIDgSgasz529qfik27KLmSn3zb4jqUCdywo5vfk9hNqcl4IdwCPNAP4zEjuzhmSltCJGAThJhHc0y3xjM7QbrN0IDx1f2B3HhNgs767C2pCtxttg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New York State Legislature","date","2025-05-14T00:00:00Z","article","The joint hearing revisited the 2021 HALT Act, New York’s law to restrict long‑term segregated confinement, after testimony from corrections staff, DOCS leadership and advocates questioned whether the statute had taken effect as intended. Many witnesses said the statute had not been fully implemented and that its inadequate or inconsistent implementation has been used by some as a scapegoat for rising violence.

Commissioner Daniel Martisell said DOCS had formed a HALT committee and had met with unions and stakeholders to develop operational recommendations, and that stakeholders were working on a timeline for recommendations. He said DOCS had met with unions and stakeholders and expected recommendations in the weeks after the hearing and that the department had reconstituted an agency-level HALT working group.

Union leaders told the committee their members felt safety concerns because restrictions on segregation made it harder, they said, to separate the most violent incarcerated people from the rest of the population. Assemblyman Phil Palmisano and other members cited statistics presented at the hearing showing increases in certain assaults and contraband seizures since HALT’s implementation, and asked whether the law’s limits on disciplinary confinement contributed to those increases.

Advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses said HALT had not been fully implemented in practice and that DOCS’ use of isolation or other forms of confinement continued for people with serious behavioral and mental health challenges. They argued that HALT’s safeguards — including limits for special populations and required procedural reviews — were not consistently enforced. Panelists also said that during the illegal work stoppage DOCS suspended parts of the law, which in their view increased harm and fostered conditions that prompted deaths and other serious incidents.

Nut graf: HALT remains contentious: labor leaders say the law has operational consequences for officer safety and policy tweaks are needed; advocates say the department has never properly implemented the law and that suspensions of HALT’s protections during the strike made conditions worse. Both sides told lawmakers they want safer facilities but disagree sharply on what changes are necessary.

Supporting details: Commissioner Martisell said DOCS formed a HALT committee that includes unions and state agencies and expected recommendations within weeks; advocates asked for time frames and substantive commitments to implement statute provisions for special populations, grievance protections and independent monitoring. Several witnesses urged that recommendations be publicly reported and that the committee not be used to delay enforcement of statutory protections.

Ending: The committee urged the HALT working group to publish recommendations and timelines for implementation and asked DOCS to report back. Advocates warned lawmakers that statutory protections without enforcement are insufficient, and that the Legislature should monitor implementation closely and consider statutory fixes to ensure safeguards are not suspended in future emergencies.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Safety of Persons in Custody, Transparency, and Accountability within State Correctional Facilities May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The HALT Act — New York’s limits on segregated confinement — was raised repeatedly at the hearing. DOCS and unions said the law had operational effects but called for tweaks; advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses said DOCS failed to implement HALT, and suspension of some rules during the strike worsened conditions.","taxTitle","Correction, Standing Committees, House, Legislative, New York","taxId",25087,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6034618,"Assembly and Senate probe staffing crisis after illegal correction officers' work stoppage",4271,1189000,5460000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e&start=1189&end=5460","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e/thumbnail_1189000.jpg","/articles/6034618/New-York/Assembly-and-Senate-probe-staffing-crisis-after-illegal-correction-officers-work-stoppage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034618-ef9c385d76291605feaa3a552a799cd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050709&Signature=ZGzoeOqGBJ3Oz7f0JMIKh8KAw2XMoKJsYcT0FfT7C3~pJl0sy77MPYlY8KtylMZB~zlM4ScjHb4kY~D8PgD~nURIt4U3SWgbWmdzLBnI3dxY8Z9u-MjDGhf0UZJqn2Dt0GxZ2OlJCZehhPi7uJbWTRYOc~d-JglhVlmqOEF2Y1S8KHtuSZqdAnj~-~Fq6n7ryUm2fEQAz0zJ6~k0zj1KBU61yNgDITJg~e3Orkt9VFrpAK95s2TPJxn1FuECqT0iESlPUTAdgD8lXrRC~OMXUnybsjV2vQ1qBJL85HKpZ3SRPFLrkJAGlLi9fFqJp70I3F7ZUMRBEZncd34uk8qIFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers examined the effects of an illegal three‑week work stoppage by correction officers earlier this year and the staffing shortfalls that followed. DOCS Commissioner Daniel Martisell III told the joint hearing that roughly 2,000 officers and sergeants were terminated or resigned in connection with the work stoppage and that the department had relied on the National Guard to maintain secure operations during the emergency.

Commissioner Martisell said the strike led to “unsustainably low staffing levels” and that the department had authorized mass hiring, regional recruiting programs and settlement agreements to reinstate some terminated employees under strict conditions. He described an aggressive recruitment push and noted that the candidate pool had increased 82 percent from the previous year.

Union leaders told the committees staffing issues predated the stoppage and said low pay, retention problems and safety concerns contributed to labor unrest. Wayne Spence, president of the Public Employees Federation, noted that DOCS overtime costs exceeded $350 million in the prior year and that civilian staff and parole officers had been asked to fill roles outside their training during the stoppage.

Committee members and DOCS leaders confirmed that the National Guard provided large‑scale support: at the peak of the emergency nearly 7,000 Guard members were deployed in DOCS facilities, with numbers declining to about 3,000 as hiring and resumption proceeded. Data requests are pending on the guard deployment’s effect on facility incidents. The commissioner agreed to provide a breakdown of assaults during the period.

Nut graf: The stoppage and its aftermath spotlighted the department’s personnel fragility and the operational impact on programming, visits and medical care. Lawmakers and union leaders agreed that long‑term solutions are needed — including recruitment, retention, workplace safety and changes to how certain positions are staffed — but differed over whether collective bargaining constraints and HALT reforms contributed to rising violence.

Supporting details: DOCS described regional hiring successes at Green Haven and Fishkill, and the department’s plan to expand recruiting into urban areas to boost diversity and local hiring. Union leaders endorsed policy fixes including better training, retention bonuses and the so‑called “death‑gap” legislation (referred to in testimony as “death gamble”) to protect pensions for long‑tenured officers who fear early death on the job and retire early as a result.

Ending: The committee asked DOCS to provide a staffing and incident breakdown and said it will hold follow‑up hearings. Lawmakers signaled interest in legislation addressing recruitment, retention and management discretion in discipline — while oversight bodies, advocates and families urged measures that prioritize safety and accountability for both incarcerated people and staff.","Lawmakers questioned the DOCS commissioner and union leaders about a three‑week illegal work stoppage, resulting staff resignations and terminations, the use of National Guard troops, and how staffing shortfalls affect safety and prison operations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6034622,"Lawmakers press DOCS on camera rollout, access to footage and data transparency",711,1075000,1786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e&start=1075&end=1786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e/thumbnail_1075000.jpg","/articles/6034622/New-York/Lawmakers-press-DOCS-on-camera-rollout-access-to-footage-and-data-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034622-2228315e209b5133b19d208b1c655b21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050709&Signature=SM0k2~jVijppnm4bwdeBgRO4~37SjPbztrHAd~5oOHJbg~8l0FL~oRRgULagHjhVB5jSH8jjpgZ6psgPKOhKwNeOD-WnUvbbTFQyGQbwmOLDqjLsmM19jrKOsMpTQKcXiyLg7ygFH4iWVUBt4p5mG9pcv0rNFUDwVM4fi462X6yh0YZmCzGzNZqsCzTMO5sCfmwtVCwvK7JJAEWgEMhcSO~L7wAyqjZowEsPknLeA6xS~cNRhVYMQ-2TYcIMDqE3QTL~WCYP84ZcFSrTVqK08~mB8L0imzKKabAzHh9vpKKpj9-l~ggDpO-PvTNVzVmUadeXQX-KsFjUAHofbQFD5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee pressed DOCS on the department’s recent expansion of camera systems and how footage will be preserved and shared following two high‑profile in‑custody deaths. DOCS Commissioner Daniel Martisell III said the department had received budget support to “fully deploy body worn cameras” and to expand fixed cameras statewide and that a performance matrix now tracks compliance at deployed sites.

Commissioner Martisell said DOCS had launched a compliance matrix, implemented random video reviews and set a 95 percent activation threshold for body worn cameras. He described a $14.9 million contract to begin statewide deployment and said a portion of the FY26 budget includes roughly $18.4 million for body‑worn deployment and larger funding to expand fixed cameras. “Staff are now required to activate their body worn cameras anytime they're engaging with the population,” Martisell said.

Witnesses pressed for clearer rules on footage retention and access. Anthony Gemmill of the Legal Aid Society and representatives from monitoring groups said requests for video and other administrative records are often delayed by FOIL and that independent oversight bodies should have direct on‑demand access. The Correctional Association requested statutory access to records currently obtainable only via FOIL, saying FOIL delays hampered timely oversight.

Families and advocates described difficulty in obtaining footage in specific cases. Assembly members asked whether footage linked to disciplinary hearings and criminal investigations was being preserved, and the commissioner said footage is turned over to prosecutorial agencies when relevant. DOCS also reported plans for a public data dashboard and promised the law firm review's recommendations would be public.

Nut graf: Legislators and advocates emphasized that cameras alone are insufficient without preservation, prompt independent access, consistent retention policies, timely FOIL responses and clear complaint pathways. They urged statutory changes so oversight bodies and investigators can get footage quickly and so unexplained loss of video is reported.

Supporting details: DOCS officials described a staged rollout: 27 facilities have operational body‑worn matrix reviews, fixed camera expansion is funded, and the department has contracts that monitor dock‑in/out times and camera upload compliance. Advocates sought mandatory audit trails, independent access for the Inspector General and Correctional Association, and automatic sharing of force‑related footage with investigators.

Ending: The committee signaled it will draft or consider statutory language to improve inspection authority, evidence retention and access. Advocates and family members said they will press for requirements that footage be held to independent review and that any deliberate destruction or loss of footage be publicly accounted for.","The committee questioned DOCS on body‑worn and fixed camera deployment, data dashboards, video retention and public access to footage; families, advocates and monitors asked for clearer policies on preservation and independent access.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6034627,"Families, advocates demand accountability after two inmates killed by corrections staff",7598,74000,7672000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e&start=74&end=7672","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5125944-f11b6607554e5aaecb599b666298e62e/thumbnail_74000.jpg","/articles/6034627/New-York/Families-advocates-demand-accountability-after-two-inmates-killed-by-corrections-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6034627-4cf73ba0e14e94d187c59103e5af3ec4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771050709&Signature=kjT2DWqCoTb03bitgmRiLPHb3zpNhaGZCrwGsy16ww0IofiJMvpiQyZFqf1DYOatjwrVXNbcepskmZKTxfnS17P3Oxsav2zW4cOPYv-5l3njnrWTY1jnDibUXxsVi4wHrgr2ZV-E2DNXtWdoLrTftOCqkNzUn7t65ANOc5hdqJZzmITA3B6F-91sXLj1j-7aFCfiL7aC1kYqYUri6Tg7nf5wLQ7gqAOvyGxyfGbcJpUr1Mb-S9CYjAqJby-YxJVLSqPYZ259DoAKwrjkQWHj9etoPX99-Xk3O2-wWHw0rGX2UrGyHAVA97Ia5NFODClR3EdaFTTLveSrdsNxIKqxLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators and assembly members pressed New York State corrections officials on May 14 after two recent killings of men in state custody exposed failures of oversight and discipline. The hearing — convened by the Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims and Corrections and the Assembly Standing Committee on Corrections — focused on the deaths of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwe and broader claims of staff violence and impunity.

Families and advocates described the killings in blunt terms. Robert Brooks’ father, Robert Ricks, told the committees that video he and others watched showed officers “beating my son to death” and that decades of prior complaints about staff misconduct had not been addressed. Ricks urged the legislature to pass bills he described as the “Robert Brooks agenda for justice,” including measures to strengthen independent oversight and discipline.

The commissioner of DOCS, Daniel Martisell III, acknowledged the murders and said he had made criminal referrals to the New York State Police and the state Attorney General, launched internal investigations and begun termination proceedings for the staff involved. “These acts are inexcusable,” Martisell told the committees, adding that he had expanded the Office of Special Investigations and retained outside counsel to conduct a holistic review of department practices.

Family testimony underlined the perceived gaps in response and care: Jessica Lowe told legislators that her father, Clement Lowe, who died after being beaten and denied timely medical care, called her repeatedly and described being ignored by medical staff. “They refused to take him to the hospital,” she said. The family said repeated phone calls and an attorney’s intervention were needed before clinicians reviewed him, and he died soon after.

Advocates and legal groups told the committees OSI and DOCS investigations have been slow and opaque, and they urged automatic outside referrals for serious use‑of‑force allegations. Anthony Gemmill of the Legal Aid Society said DOCS internal probes often “weigh staff credibility over incarcerated voices” and recommended that serious force allegations be referred automatically to the state Inspector General for independent investigation.

Speakers on the panel and in public comment called out disciplinary outcomes that appear weak compared with the scale of misconduct alleged. Parole Preparation Project deputy director Anthony Dixon summarized settlement and disciplinary data that he said show large numbers of claims and very few terminations over long periods. “Between 2010 and 2022, DOCS sought to terminate staff in roughly 290 cases but only terminated 28 officers,” Dixon said in written testimony.

Lawmakers pressed Martisell about his ability to discipline staff. The commissioner said his authority is constrained by the collective bargaining framework and independent arbitration, and he welcomed legislative changes that would provide broader discretion, while declining to comment on pending bills he said he could not discuss publicly.

Nut graf: Family testimony and recorded video from correctional facilities brought the issue of staff violence into public view and created new urgency at the Legislature. Lawmakers and advocates said the department’s recorded responses — criminal referrals, expanded investigator staff and external reviews — are necessary but not sufficient: they want clearer, faster independent investigations, improved access to camera footage for investigators and families, and statutory changes to ensure meaningful discipline when misconduct is proven.

Supporting details: Witnesses from prisoners’ rights organizations and public defenders described patterns of retaliation, slow grievance processes and difficulty getting video or medical records through FOIL. Several witnesses urged that body‑worn camera and fixed camera footage be preserved and made accessible to independent investigators, and that any unexplained loss of footage be reported publicly. The Correctional Association and other monitors supported statutory changes to expand outside oversight and subpoena authority.

Ending: The hearing closed with renewed calls from families and advocates for immediate action: pass statutes to strengthen independent oversight and discipline, ensure prompt sharing of video and medical records, and reform investigation timelines so families get faster answers. Lawmakers said this hearing will be followed by proposals and that they expect the department to cooperate as the Legislature considers legal changes this session.","Lawmakers, family members and advocates pressed New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCS) leaders for answers after the on-duty killings of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwe and called for independent investigations, stronger discipline and faster transparency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers, advocates dispute whether HALT solitary‑confinement reforms were implemented as written

Assembly and Senate probe staffing crisis after illegal correction officers' work stoppage

Lawmakers press DOCS on camera rollout, access to footage and data transparency

Families, advocates demand accountability after two inmates killed by corrections staff