ROME, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A state lawmaker from Central New York feels it’s “unacceptable” that an inmate’s visitor accused of bringing a dangerous substance into Mohawk Correctional Facility wasn’t sent to jail and only faces misdemeanor charges.

In an interview with NewsChannel 9 | LocalSYR.com, State Sen. Joe Griffo (R-53) said he was “urging that we revisit the charges and up the charges to either reckless endangerment or assault [in the second degree].”

“I will continue to have that conversation with law enforcement as well as the prosecutors,” he said.

53-year-old Shondrea Taylor was ticketed with two counts of promoting prison contraband, accused of trying to smuggle into prison an envelope containing papers soaked with a toxic substance.

State police told NewsChannel 9 | LocalSYR.com the evidence was sent to a forensic laboratory in Pennsylvania in the hopes the chemical is identified. Testing done locally was inconclusive, state police said.

The substance made three correction officers and two members of the National Guard sick. Four people were sent home from the hospital, but one correction officer remains in critical condition.

She’s having a hard time breathing on her own, “sedated and intubated,” said the prison officers’ union.

Beyond upgrading the criminal charges in this case, Griffo is asking the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the agency that oversees the prison system, to review its visitation policies.

“We need to do better,” Griffo said. “We need to have enhanced security. For instance, perhaps we have to have drug detection dogs at every visitation across every facility. We have to look at what we’re doing on the body scanners to ensure they’re mandatory with the exception of a medical exemption.”

Visitors don’t have to be fully scanned, but will only be allowed a “no-contact visit” if they aren’t scanned. Visits aren’t scheduled in advance, so people can show open any time during a prison’s specific timeframe for visits. Visitors have to register their name in conjunction with an inmate, who has to approve the visit.

“We also should look at enhanced penalties — so there’s a consequence — for both the visitor who’s bringing in contraband and the incarcerated individual who’s receiving the contraband,” Griffo said.

Griffo’s request to pause visitations at prisons in his district was denied.