“Safety concerns in our correctional facilities have reached a critical level due to failed policies that endanger officers, civilian staff and inmates. The HALT Act has led to increased violence, with officers unable to maintain order and inmates resorting to makeshift weapons. This compromises the safety of all involved.”

“The rise in drug exposure is another urgent problem. Drugs enter through visits, packages and drug-saturated paper mail, with the latter posing a direct hazard to officers. This also fuels an illicit trade among inmates.”

“Rather than doubling down on what clearly isn’t working, I want to again emphasize to our state leaders that we have the tools to fix these problems: Mandatory body scanners for visitor screenings, secure vendors for inmate packages and replacing paper mail with electronic communication will reduce contraband and improve safety. These measures are proven and necessary.”

“Disciplinary procedures must also be reinstated immediately. Officers need the authority to separate inmates immediately for 15 days to maintain control, and I strongly encourage a secondary review process for extended separation from general population inmates.”

“With mediations beginning today, I want to remind the governor that we all share the same goal— to restore order and safety in our facilities. The retaliatory measures she pushed last week will not help us achieve that. I hope to see more rational, constructive approaches today.”