Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (far left) is shown here with Michael Powers (second from left), President of the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), today in Albany. NYSCOPBA officials came to the State Capitol today to highlight the dangers of the recently enacted “HALT” legislation, which severely restricts disciplinary actions that can be used in state prisons. Also pictured are NYSCOPBA Executive Vice President Chris Summers, Recording Secretary Mark DeBurgomaster and Treasurer Frank Gilbo. 

Since the Human Alternatives to Longer-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) bill went into effect on April 1, 2022, violence within state prisons has increased dramatically. Inmate-on-staff attacks and inmate-on-inmate attacks have each risen by more than 30%.