Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River) applauds the recent announcement that the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision will be hiring an additional 103 officers. The new officers will be placed in prisons to help reduce the recent increase in violence.

“In our prison system, we always need to be vigilant about the support and help our officers are getting to ensure their safety, the safety of other civilian employees, and the inmates as well. Hiring more officers is the right move, and I encourage our state to keep monitoring safety in the prisons to ensure that nobody is needlessly hurt,” said Blankenbush. “Our correctional officers put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe. I will continue to advocate for their safety and for the security of our prison system.”

Recently, it was reported by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, Inc. (NYSCOPBA) that prison violence is increasing. Violence on officers increased by more than 50 percent and inmate-on-inmate violence increased by more than 60 percent. New officers will be placed in prisons that have been through a 2014-15 safety staffing review.