Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, (R-C, Elma) has introduced legislation (S.9487) to amend the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act to improve safety and security for everyone who lives and works in state correctional facilities. 

The amendments are based on recommendations from a special committee made up of state and union officials created following a 22-day state correction officer strike in 2025. The group unanimously agreed on recommendations that would improve safety while maintaining the fundamental goal of the HALT Act – to reduce isolation and increase rehabilitative programming to more effectively address the underlying issues that lead incarcerated individuals to engage in misbehavior.

“In order to promote rehabilitation, the state must first ensure that facilities are safe and secure for incarcerated individuals, correction officers, staff, and visitors,” Senator Gallivan said. “Officers must have the resources to address those who pose a danger to themselves or others, commit violent crimes while incarcerated, or repeatedly misbehave. This legislation is necessary to help reduce the dangerous environment that exists in too many of New York’s correctional facilities.”

The proposed bill would amend the HALT Act by:

   - Expanding misconduct/offense eligible for segregated confinement.

   - Revising definitions to align with penal law crimes, especially regarding violent felony offenses.

   - Permitting short-term segregated confinement for ongoing misbehavior.

   - Reducing subjectivity in determining rioting or escape offenses.

   - Giving the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision flexibility in administering out-of-cell programming.

   - Expanding considerations relating to good time allowances.

The legislation has been sent to the Senate’s Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction for review. State Assembly Member David DiPietro introduced the legislation (A.10430) in the Assembly.

The HALT Committee was comprised of representatives from DOCCS, the Office of Employee Relations, and the Division of Criminal Justice Services, and unions representing employees working in DOCCS correctional facilities – Civil Service Employees Association, Council 82, NYSCOPBA, and Public Employees Federation. Committee members also met with several independent stakeholders, including the Center for Community Alternatives, Correctional Association of New York, HALT Solitary Campaign, Legal Action Center, New York Civil Liberties Union, and Prisoners’ Legal Services of New York.

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