Record Assaults, Staff Shortages Spark Unofficial Prison Guard Strike in New York

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has told the state's National Guard to get ready to be sent to prisons if a growing strike by jail guards is not resolved by Wednesday. Officers are walking off the job to protest assault rates that are at all-time highs, dangerous working conditions, and severe staff shortages.

Late this week, prison staff across New York State went on strike, even though their union, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), spoke out against it. Hochul promised that the strike would not put public safety at risk while talks were still going on.

Hochul gave the order to mobilize the National Guard because she said, "We will not allow these individuals to put the safety of their coworkers, incarcerated people, and the residents of communities surrounding our correctional facilities at risk."

The strike is because of more and more violence in state prisons. According to NYSCOPBA, over 2,070 assaults on staff were reported in 2024, which was a record for a single year. In five years, attacks on officers have doubled, while attacks between prisoners have almost tripled.

Paid off A spokesman for the New York National Guard, Col. Richard Goldenberg, admitted that plans were being made but said that the governor would give the official order to deploy.

Multiple prisons have stopped letting visitors, and there doesn't seem to be a clear answer. This makes people wonder if military personnel are ready to handle prison security.

NYSCOPBA has spoken out against the strike and said that replacing trained officers with the National Guard will "impact job duties within the facility" and could worsen things. As Wednesday's deadline approaches, talks between the union and state leaders are still going on.

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