Assemblyman Brian Miller (R,C-New Hartford) joined a bipartisan group of legislators, representatives from the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) and correctional officers, many of whom are women, to call for stronger laws against sexual harassment and abuse committed by inmates against correctional officers. To address the sexually hostile environment in prisons, the proposed bill would create a new crime of the forcible touching of a correctional officer and increase penalties for sexual offenses committed against a correctional officer (A.1606)

“I applaud the women who came here to bravely discuss the sexual harassment and abuse they have endured as correctional officers. We have to look at how we can better protect them, they are trying to protect our communities in one of the tensest work environments imaginable, and state policies have made it only more dangerous for them,” said Miller. “In addition to strengthening our laws against these types of crimes, we must also reconsider the impact HALT has had on the safety of the state prison system.”

Miller adds he raised concerns about the enactment of HALT Act passed in 2021, which limits the use of disciplinary beds in state prisons. Since the enactment of HALT, there has been a 33 percent increase in overall violence. He says looking at revising HALT should also be on the table to help protect correctional officers and inmates from all kinds of violence.