New York's prison strike has $1 billion tab – and climbing

[Chinese]

New York's Prison Strike Leaves Billion-Dollar Bill Behind

As the state grapples with its ongoing correctional crisis, officials have revealed that the cost of deploying the National Guard to support prison staffing has ballooned to over $1 billion – and counting. Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed budget allocates an additional $535 million to keep troops in the state prison system through March, bringing the total expenditure to $700 million.

The surge in spending is a direct result of last year's corrections officers strike, which left thousands of staff members without work. The strike was sparked by concerns over violence, excessive overtime, and restrictions on solitary confinement. In response, Hochul temporarily suspended parts of the 2021 law limiting solitary confinement and offered incentive pay to get officers back on the job.

However, instead of resolving the staffing crisis, these measures have only exacerbated it. Around 3,000 troops remain deployed in 34 prisons, with the state now facing a shortage of over 4,600 corrections officers – significantly fewer than the 14,600 called for under departmental staffing plans.

To address this issue, officials have broadened their hiring standards and launched recruitment drives to increase numbers. However, even these efforts have not been enough to stem the tide of costs associated with deploying National Guard personnel. The biweekly starting salary for corrections officers is around $2,550, excluding overtime, while Guards receive base pay plus a $2,000 supplement every two weeks.

Despite concerns about the long-term sustainability of this arrangement, union officials indicate that the deployment remains acceptable due to the staffing shortages that persist. State Sen. Mark Walczyk, however, argues that the governor should take more drastic action – including permanently rolling back solitary confinement restrictions and enhancing security measures to reduce contraband in prisons.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Julia Salazar emphasizes the need for more fundamental reforms, such as reducing prison populations and expanding parole options for older inmates. This approach would not only alleviate costs but also address concerns about public safety and effective resource allocation. As the state continues to grapple with its correctional crisis, it remains to be seen whether these measures will prove effective in addressing the root causes of this issue.

 

[Depressing Fashion]

I'm getting so tired of how our governments are always throwing money at problems instead of solving them properly . The prison strike was a wake-up call, but instead of using that momentum to create real change, they're just pouring more cash into the problem . And it's not even like it's working - we've got over 4,600 corrections officers missing and still deploying National Guard troops for $700 million?! That's just insane . What I want to see is some real reform, like reducing prison populations and expanding parole options... that'd be a game-changer . Until then, it's just more money down the drain .

 

[Rocket-Powered Ha]

Oh man, $1 billion is a whoppin' amount of cash! And it's just to keep the prisons running because some officers went on strike. I mean, I get it, people don't wanna be overworked and stuff, but 4,600 fewer COs than needed? That's crazy talk! The state should've thought of this before they made those "reforms". Now we're stuck with a biweekly starting salary of $2,550 + some extra for Guards. What's next? Sending in the National Guard to fix our toilet problems too?

 

[Expensive Ee]

So they're saying the whole thing is like a big mess? I mean, they gotta deploy 3k National Guard troops 'cause there's so few corrections officers on the job. And now it's costing the state $1 billion+ and counting... that's insane! It's like, what happened to just treating people right and paying them a decent wage? Instead of suspending those laws and giving out bonus pay, they're just making things worse. I feel for the inmates, but at the same time, these officers are putting their lives on the line every day... it's a tough one. Maybe we need some real change in there, like reducing prison populations or increasing parole options?

 

[Elegant Eland]

I don’t usually comment but... I think its pretty crazy that we're spending over a billion bucks to try and cover up a staffing shortage? Like, isn't there a better way to address this problem than just throwing more money at it? I'm no expert, but it seems like some of these ideas (like expanding parole options) could actually help reduce costs in the long run. And what's with all the overtime pay? Is that really going to make a difference when people are still leaving their jobs due to poor working conditions? The state is basically paying them just to not quit, right?

 

[Witty Wryneck]

I feel like we're just putting Band-Aids on a bigger problem here . Deploying National Guard troops is a temporary fix, but what about addressing the actual issues that led to the strike in the first place? Violence and excessive overtime have been ongoing problems for years, so why should we just throw more money at it without making some real changes? We need to be looking at ways to reduce prison populations, expand parole options, and improve working conditions for corrections officers. It's time to think about prevention over just putting out fires

 

[Vast Vultur]

I think it's wild that the state is spending like $1 billion on deploying National Guard troops just to cover for a lack of corrections officers ! Meanwhile, we're supposed to believe that temporarily suspending solitary confinement and offering overtime pay would magically solve the staffing crisis? It feels like they're just throwing money at the problem without addressing the root causes. We need to talk about systemic issues here, not just Band-Aid solutions . And what's with the biweekly starting salary of $2,550 for corrections officers? That's barely enough to cover living costs in NY . We need a more comprehensive approach that prioritizes public safety and rehabilitation over profits

 

[Elderly Chainsaw 64]

Can't believe the state is shelling out 1 billion for National Guard troops Meanwhile, we're still dealing with a serious corrections officer shortage And the biweekly starting salary is only $2,550? That's not even enough to cover living costs in NYC! What's the plan here? Are we just throwing money at the problem without actually fixing it?

 

[Star Wars Baseba]

I dont think deploying National Guard is a long-term solution for staffing crisis . Its causing more costs and still not resolving the problem. We need to look at bigger picture here, like why we got 4600 corrections officers shortage in first place . Is it just about pay? Are there other issues like training or resources that needs to be addressed?

 

[Colo]

The article is all over the place, if you ask me. It starts off talking about how much money the state is shelling out to deploy National Guard personnel, but then suddenly shifts gears and dives into the nitty-gritty details of the corrections officers' union and their demands for better working conditions. And don't even get me started on the proposed solutions – it's like they're trying to throw a bunch of different ideas against the wall and see what sticks.

I mean, I get that reducing prison populations and expanding parole options are some potential answers, but can we really just gloss over the fact that the state is still paying corrections officers top dollar? Like, $2,550 a biweekly salary? That's crazy. And what about all the other costs associated with keeping these prisons running – food, medical care, equipment... it's like they're expecting some kind of magic solution to appear out of thin air.

And then there are the politicians who just want to talk the talk but aren't willing to put in the real work to make a change. I mean, Governor Hochul proposes more funding, state Sen. Mark Walczyk wants to roll back solitary confinement restrictions... what's the plan?

 

[WWII]

omg $1 billion is crazy!!! i feel for those corrections officers tho, they got really messed up situation going on & i guess the gov cant help but spend more $$ to keep things stable but seriously though, maybe it's time for some real change? like reducing prison populations & stuff? it might cost more upfront but in the long run it could be way cheaper & better for everyone

 

[Smoggy Serv]

The $1 billion+ bill for deploying National Guard troops in NY prisons is insane! I mean, I get that there's a staffing crisis and all, but come on, that's like pouring money down a drain . And what's with the temporary fix? Just because you lift some restrictions on solitary confinement doesn't solve the underlying problems .

I think state Sen Julia Salazar makes sense, though - reducing prison populations and expanding parole options could save $$$ and make our communities safer . I'm not sure about perma-rolling back solitary confinement restrictions, but at least that's a start . We need to find more sustainable solutions to this crisis, like investing in mental health services or job training programs for ex-cons .

 

[Hyper Pogo in Craz]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the billions spent on deploying National Guard troops to support prisons. It's crazy to think that a billion-dollar bill is just sitting there like that! Meanwhile, our corrections officers are making decent wages - $2,550 biweekly plus overtime - but it's not enough to keep them on staff. I feel for these guys, but at the same time, I get why they're pushing for more drastic action. We need to address the root causes of this crisis and not just throw money at it. Reducing prison populations and expanding parole options could be a game-changer. Let's hope our leaders can find a solution that doesn't break the bank

 

[Wide-eyed Worm]

I think the state is overreacting by deploying National Guard troops in the first place . I mean, $1 billion is a lot of money and it's not like the prisons are going to descend into complete chaos without these extra soldiers . Plus, think about all the overtime they're getting paid - that's just not right . And let's be real, solitary confinement was probably causing more problems than it solved in the first place . If the state really wants to address the staffing crisis, maybe they should focus on better training and compensation for the corrections officers rather than throwing money at a problem .

 

[Stupid S]

think they should just pay the 3k a month or so guards already make plus the supplement... $2mvv and $2k more on top is still a steal if you ask me but i get it, desperate times and all that. need to figure out why they cant just hire enough people from inside or something tho? or maybe its just a case of being underfunded...

 

[Post-Apocalyptic Frisbe]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole National Guard thing . I mean, $1 billion is a crazy amount, and it's not just the cost of deploying troops, but also the overtime that comes with it . It makes me wonder if this is just a Band-Aid solution or something more permanent . I've been following this story, and it seems like no one has a clear answer to the staffing crisis, let alone the root cause of it. I think we need to start looking at the bigger picture, not just throwing money at the problem .

 

[Spotless Snail]

$1 billion+ is like having a gazillion dollars, right? but seriously though, who's paying for all that National Guard stuff? It's like they're trying to buy peace or something... meanwhile, we're stuck with 4,600+ missing corrections officers and I'm over here thinking what would happen if the nurses union decided to go on strike too?