“Today I joined Correctional Officer across the North Country at Clinton Correction Facility to call for the full repeal of HALT. Correctional facilities across New York State continue to see a substantial increase in violent attacks since the implementation of HALT this spring. I voted against this legislation and have been advocating for its repeal due to concerns this would happen. I have been in consistent contact with the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association about this rise in both inmate-on staff- and inmate-on-inmate assaults, and it is beyond frustrating with the lack of action by New York State to address this. Any inmate that is a perpetrator of an assault needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and there needs to be effective deterrents to keeps these assaults from happening in the first place. Correctional officers and staff deserve a safe working environment, without the constant threat of being attacked. New York State must take action now to repeal HALT to ensure the safety of correctional officers and staff.”