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The editor is John Ryan at email: perugazette@gmail.com. The Peru Gazette is a free community, education and information website. It is non-commercial and does not accept paid advertising.

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The Peru Gazette welcomes comments on posted stories. The author MUST include his/her first and last name. No  foul or libelous language permitted. The Peru Gazette reserves the right to not publish a comment.

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Senator Dan Stec and Assemblyman Billy Jones express different remedies to recent correctional facility violence

Feb. 12, 2025 – Statement from State Senator Dan Stec on incidents at Upstate and Collins Correctional Facilities 
“Between the recent chemical exposure at Upstate Correctional Facility and today’s events at Collins, it’s more clear than ever that state policies like HALT have made these sites unsafe for correction officers, civilian staff and incarcerated individuals. The dangerous behavior of disruptive incarcerates will only worsen, as Acting Commissioner Martuscello recently announced that 70 percent staffing inside a facility will equal ‘fully staffed’ as far as DOCCS is concerned.
 
“Correction officers are expected to make do with less: less staffing and less resources at their disposal to protect themselves and others. Shame on Democrat leaders for actively making correctional facilities unsafe. Their continued virtue signaling and social justice crusading has put the health and well-being of officers and civilian staff at risk.
 
“Instead of continuing to push a radical political agenda, they should take a good look at what it’s like inside these facilities and the impact their policies are having on hardworking, dedicated officers and staff.

 

February 13, 2025 – Assemblyman Jones’s statement on Safety Procedures at Correctional Facilities in State Budget

            Due to an increase in incidents of exposure to contraband at correctional facilities including the recent incident at Upstate Correctional Facility in Malone, Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) is pushing to include language to increase safety at correctional facilities in this year’s State Budget. Jones is requesting to make it mandatory for all visitors and inmates to have a full body scan instead of allowing them to opt for a traditional scan with a wand. He is also requesting an update to the legal mail policy including the utilization of scanning technology.

            “It is unacceptable that we continue to have issues with contraband at correctional facilities that put the hardworking men and women behind those walls in danger when we have the technology and the means to increase security,” said Jones. “The recent incident at Upstate Correctional where numerous correctional officers received medical treatment due to an exposure is just a drop in the bucket and the state needs to do more. That is why I am pushing to include language in the final State Budget to make full body scans mandatory for all visitors and inmates, as well as update the legal mail policy. No one should be able to opt out of the full body scan, and we need to utilize the existing scanning technology for mail to ensure that those who put their lives on the line every day when they go to work at these facilities are safe.”

“We truly appreciate Assemblyman Jones support for our members safety by advocating for new policies and technology that will limit the amount of contraband, particularly dangerous and deadly drugs, from getting into the hands of the inmates.  As a former corrections officer, Assemblyman Jones fully understands the current climate our members face and has worked tirelessly in the past to support our push for improved safety measures.” – stated Chris Summers, NYSCOPBA President.

            The State Legislature is currently working on their One-House Budget proposals to be released next month. The Governor’s 30-day amendments for the Executive Budget Proposal are expected to be released this week.

Posted: February 14th, 2025 under Adirondack Region News, Law Enforcement News, Northern NY News, Peru/Regional History, Political News, State Government News, State Legislator News.

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