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

New York's prison strike has sent the bill skyrocketing, with the state expected to surpass $1 billion in costs related to deploying National Guard troops to maintain order behind bars.

Governor Kathy Hochul's proposed budget allocates an additional $535 million to keep the troops deployed through March, bringing the total cost for the deployment up to $700 million. This is on top of a significant amount spent so far, which is fueling the ongoing partisan debate over how to address persistent staffing shortages in the state's 42 prisons.

The crisis began when thousands of corrections officers walked off the job last February, citing high levels of violence and excessive overtime requirements as reasons for their strike. In response, Hochul suspended parts of a 2021 law limiting solitary confinement time and offered incentives to return to work. However, she ultimately fired around 2,000 officers, calling in the National Guard to fill staffing gaps.

Today, around 3,000 troops remain deployed in 34 prisons, with officials estimating that this will continue to cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars over the coming months. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has expanded its hiring standards but faces slow going in attracting new recruits, with the number of people graduating from its training academy increasing by just 36% compared to last year.

Despite efforts to address staffing shortages, lawmakers are still at odds over how to tackle the issue. Some, like Democratic State Senator Julia Salazar, advocate for closing more prisons and reducing the prison population through reforms that would allow older inmates to be released on parole. Others, such as Republican State Senator Mark Walczyk, believe that stricter visitor screening measures could help reduce contraband and make prisons safer.

The union representing corrections officers has expressed support for the National Guard deployment, citing staffing shortages still present even before the strike last year. However, many are critical of Hochul's approach, arguing that it is unsustainable in the long term and that more needs to be done to address the root causes of violence and staffing shortages behind bars.

As the state continues to grapple with its prison crisis, one thing is clear: the cost of maintaining order will only continue to rise unless a comprehensive solution is found.

The whole situation is super complex, but I think the main issue here is that everyone's trying to fix the symptoms instead of addressing the root cause . We need to have a serious conversation about how we're dealing with people who are incarcerated in the first place. Are they really getting the help and support they need? Or are they being stuck in a system that's designed to fail them?

The fact that it took thousands of corrections officers walking off the job for us to even start talking about reform is pretty eye-opening . And now, we're throwing more money at the problem with the National Guard deployment, but are we really solving anything?

man this is wild think about it if we dont address the real issues inside prisons like violence and staffing shortages its gonna keep costing us billions 535 million more isnt gonna cut it they need to find solutions that work for everyone not just one side of the aisle and yeah i feel bad for those corrections officers who are struggling but firing them and bringing in the National Guard isnt the answer its just gonna make things worse

I don’t usually comment but it’s crazy how much money we’re talking about here $1 billion? That's like, whoa! I think it's kinda sad that Hochul fired those 2k officers and now they're basically out of jobs . It would've been nice if she just listened to their concerns instead of making things worse. And what's with the partisan debate over here? Can't we all just agree on how to make prisons safer without making it a big political issue? The union supports the National Guard, but I'm not sure if it's the best solution long-term...

I'm getting so fed up with this whole prison strike situation in New York . The costs are just piling up and it's all because of these staffing shortages. I mean, 700 million dollars? It's crazy! They need to figure out how to keep people employed there without resorting to deploying the National Guard . I get that corrections officers want better working conditions, but firing 2k people wasn't the answer . And now they're trying to find new recruits but it's slow going... what's the hold up? They need to speed up the hiring process and actually address these issues rather than just throwing more money at it . It's all so frustrating!

I can imagine how tough this must be for those corrections officers who lost their jobs and now have to see their colleagues still struggling to make ends meet . It's not just about the money, it's also about respect and dignity for these individuals who put their lives on the line every day . I feel so sorry for them and all the inmates who are caught in the middle of this chaos .

It's interesting that some lawmakers think closing more prisons would be a solution, but at what cost? It's not like it's a simple answer, right? We need to find a way to address the root causes of violence and staffing shortages without breaking the system entirely . I just hope they can find a way to do this soon, before things get even more out of hand .

Ugh, gotta love how our tax dollars are being used to pay for someone else's overtime . I mean, come on, $700 million? That's like, what, half a billion?! It feels like Hochul just can't seem to crack the code on fixing these staffing shortages without throwing more money at it. And don't even get me started on those 2,000 officers getting "fired" - what's the plan there? Just going to magically attract new recruits who aren't already burnt out from working in an industry with super low pay and benefits? I guess we'll just keep throwing money at the problem until it goes away... or something.

The optics of Governor Hochul's proposed budget are indeed concerning, with an additional $535 million allocated for National Guard deployment being a staggering sum . Furthermore, the continued partisan debate over addressing staffing shortages in New York's prisons highlights the need for a multifaceted approach . While I understand the concerns surrounding violence and excessive overtime requirements, I believe that closing more prisons and reducing the prison population through reforms is a crucial step towards mitigating these issues .

The slow pace of attracting new recruits to the DOCCS training academy is a telling indicator of the root causes of staffing shortages, which need to be addressed proactively . I am skeptical about the effectiveness of stricter visitor screening measures in reducing contraband and making prisons safer . The union's support for the National Guard deployment, while understandable, highlights the urgency required to address these issues promptly .

Ultimately, a comprehensive solution that addresses the underlying causes of violence and staffing shortages is essential to ensuring the sustainability of the state's prison system .

I'm so torn about this ... I mean, on one hand, I think it's crazy that we're spending like $1 billion on National Guard troops to keep prisons running, considering most people wouldn't even notice the difference if these guards were replaced with regular cops . But at the same time, I get why Hochul did what she did – we can't just leave thousands of prisoners unattended and expect everything to be fine ... it's like trying to balance a seesaw: do you risk a riot if you don't deploy the guards, or do you keep spending gazillions to maintain order but not really address the root issues? It's all so messed up

Ugh, this whole prison strike situation is like, so expensive ... I mean, who needs $1 billion? Can't we just, like, invest in some better security cameras or something instead? And btw, 2,000 officers got fired because they didn't want to deal with all the drama behind bars? That's like me quitting my job 'cause I don't wanna deal with my crazy aunt . But seriously, it's a mess and I'm not sure what the solution is... more prisons or less? It's all just, like, so complicated .

I'm tellin' ya, this whole prison strike situation in New York is gettin' outta hand . I mean, I've been followin' it for ages and it's just one big mess . First they suspend that law limitin' solitary confinement time, then Hochul fires like 2k officers and brings in the National Guard... what a waste of cash ! And now they're expectin' to shell out over a billion bucks? That's just crazy talk .

And don't even get me started on the politics behind it all. Partisans can't agree on nothin', it's like, come on guys, put your differences aside and figure somethin' out . Maybe it's time to rethink the whole prison system, you know? Like, closin' some prisons or reducin' sentences for older inmates... that'd be a good start .

But hey, at least they're tryin', right? It's not like nobody's gonna just magic up a solution and suddenly everythin' will be golden . Nah, it's gonna take some serious effort and compromise from both sides to get this thing sorted out .

I'm still remembering those days when cops were treated like family, you know? Back in my day, they had it pretty good. Anyway, this whole prison strike situation has got me thinking... what's up with all these governors and lawmakers just throwing money at the problem without solving anything? I mean, we've been hearing about this staffing shortage crisis for ages now, and it's like they're trying to fix a leaky faucet with superglue. And don't even get me started on these new recruit numbers... 36% more than last year? That's like, what, a tiny drop in the ocean? I remember when people wanted to serve their country or make a difference and actually became corrections officers, not just for the pay. The National Guard deployment is one thing, but we need real solutions here, not just band-aid fixes

I remember when prisons weren't this crazy . I mean, back in my day, you'd actually see prisoners doing some actual work, like farming or fixing up the place. Nowadays, it's all about security and control, not rehabilitation . And now we're paying for it? $700 million? It's just wild . What happened to good old-fashioned community service? Or, I don't know, just giving people a chance to turn their lives around? The system just seems so broken right now .

Ugh, can't believe this . I mean, I get that corrections officers need better pay and working conditions, but suspending parts of a law limiting solitary confinement time doesn't seem like enough . And firing 2k officers? That's just reckless . Now we're stuck with a $700 million bill because of it . It's all about politics, right? The gov is only making things worse by not addressing the root causes of violence and staffing shortages in prisons . I think they need to look at bigger picture here... like reforming sentencing laws or investing in rehabilitation programs . This whole situation just feels so messy .

The $700 million price tag for deploying National Guard troops is just the tip of the iceberg . It's time to rethink our approach to corrections and focus on long-term solutions that address staffing shortages, violence, and rehabilitation programs . We need to invest in our inmates' future, not just fill gaps with temporary fixes . The state can't keep throwing money at the problem without making meaningful changes .