“I worked in corrections for twenty years and understand how dangerous working at a correctional facility can be. The recent spike in prison violence including the most recent incident at Clinton Correctional is unacceptable and the problem is only escalating. There are serious concerns about how the HALT Act will further increase violence at correctional facilities and that is one of the many reasons why I voted against it. I also have passed legislation to help keep our correctional facilities safe including ending double-bunking in facilities across the state. The workers at North Country correctional facilities were deemed essential during the pandemic and they deserve to be safe. The state needs to propose actual solutions to remedy this problem and that is why I am a proud co-sponsor of a bill (A7588) to create a commission to study prison violence that will be required to come up with solutions to address this issue. The hardworking folks at correctional facilities are counting on the state to take action and we must do something before more people are seriously hurt, or even worse, killed.”