ALBANY – The New York State Corrections Officers & Police Benevolent Association Tuesday called on the state to hold off on the full implementation of the Humane Alternatives for Long Term (HALT) Solitary Confinement Act. It is set to take effect on April 1 to be fully implemented in all state-run prisons.
NYSCOPBA Regional Vice President Chris Moreau said it will place officers in more danger than they are already.
“Since the law has passed, inmates cannot be placed in a secure housing unit for more than 15 days. At the end of those 15 days, they will be transitioned into what is called an RRU. It’s a rehabilitative unit, but unfortunately, it’s congregate in setting, so you will have some of the worst actors in the facility together with minimal security restrictions,” he said.
Moreau said to characterize HALT as solitary confinement is a misnomer as the individual would be in the same type of cell as normal, but separated from the general population.
