EXCLUSIVE: ‘Afghanistan was better.’ NY National Guard members on prison duty during strike describe deplorable conditions inside state facilities
Since then, News 12 is told troops are sleeping on dirty floors, in buildings with no heat that are no longer in use by incarcerated individuals and in some cases, are condemned.
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News 12 is getting exclusive, new information about alleged deplorable working conditions for members of the New York National Guard filling in for striking correction officers.
The shocking firsthand accounts of the working conditions inside state prisons include video that show bathrooms without plumbing and showers with crumbling tiles that are taped off from use; and are from soldiers inside Shawangunk, Otisville, Attica and Sing Sing, just to name a few.
They asked News 12 to keep their identity private.
“Each prison is different but across the board it’s just terrible. We all agree that Afghanistan was better than the conditions in these prisons,” said one national guard member. “None of the troops are able to go home so what they’ve brought with them to the prison is what they’ve got. We have to request supplies be brought to the prisons because there isn’t enough water or food. The MRE’s, they are there sometimes, but not all the time.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul deployed thousands of the state’s soldiers to prisons last week during a sudden state of emergency caused by an unauthorized correction officer strike.
Since then, News 12 is told troops are sleeping on dirty floors, in buildings with no heat that are no longer in use by incarcerated individuals and in some cases, are condemned. The service members say they are being put at risk working with the prisoner population without proper training.
“[We are] de facto correction officers. We have soldiers getting feces thrown at them, [bodily fluids] thrown at them. They are responding to suicide calls by inmates. This isn’t what we train for,” says one soldier.
The state is actively engaged in negotiations with the correction officer’s union NYSCOPBA to end the strike.
In the meantime, National Guard members say they were told to prepare to remain on duty for 30 days and feel as though there’s “no end in sight.”
“There’s no planning,” says a soldier. “The governor wanted national guard in prions; she got the national guard in prisons.
A representative for the New York National Guard had no comment.
News 12 reached out to the governor's office for information about the allegations. A spokesperson did not specifically address concerns but released the following statement:
“We are grateful to the National Guard members who are working to maintain the safety and security of our correctional facilities alongside correction officers and civilian staff," says spokesperson Matt Janiszewski. "These dedicated professionals have stepped up while striking correction officers continue to put their colleagues, the incarcerated population, and the surrounding communities at risk. We will continue supporting the National Guard members who have been critical in maintaining facility operations and ensuring they have the resources and support they need to complete their mission.”
News 12 reached out to the Department of Community Corrections and Supervision, which oversees state prisons.
"This illegal strike has been challenging for all the hard-working men and women inside state correctional facilities. We appreciate the ongoing support of the National Guard in helping us stabilize and maintain safe operations. We understand that there are challenges and recognize that this is not sustainable in the long run. That is yet another reason it is critical we find a resolution to end this strike," says DOCCS spokesperson Thomas Mailey.
