Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C,I-Horicon) was joined by Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury), Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, members of the Assembly and officials from the New York State Correction Officers Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) at a press conference today to announce legislation to repeal the HALT Act enacted in 2021.

The HALT Act was implemented to reduce the number of days spent in special housing in a correctional facility, but instead it nearly eliminates the ability to separate incarcerated individuals from one another. This leaves violent offenders together within the facilities and creates the potential for gang violence and other fights, which increases the risk to correction officers’ safety. Since the legislation was enacted, NYSCOPBA filed a lawsuit to overturn HALT as increased violence and attacks on officers have increased by roughly 25 percent since April 1 of this year.

“Our correction officers should not be put at risk by legislation that protects incarcerated individuals over them. Special housing is not the same as solitary confinement. Inmates still have the same privileges but special housing reduces the risk of disturbances,” said Simpson. “Creating structure and policies within correctional facilities protects the incarcerated and the correction officers and that is exactly why the HALT Act is ineffective on the inside. We cannot condone violence and must protect our correction officers.”