Sounds to me like the Union is conducted along the lines of any successful organized crime entity, that has local and state government more or less in its pocket. What a shock! Does anyone actually believe that prisons, especially maximum security, are run like some prep school in Connecticut? Prisons are and have always been violent hellholes, where the law of the jungle, and survival of the fittest, rules (unless we're talking about Federal "country clubs" for white-collar felons with "financial resources"). The guards may be the mythical "good guys" to the oblivious masses back home, but in reality, it's much more complicated.
1
When will progressives, liberals, and the ny times wake up! ? There is not, nor has there ever been justification for public service unions. And certainly, collective bargaining for the public sector should be nationally outlawed. This is the root of government corruption and incompetence .
1
Will voters ever wake up or even care that public employee unions buy and own Democrat lawmakers with their forced union dues and "volunteers" supporting Democrat campaigns. It's a corrupt, incestuous relationship justified by the class warfare that's been waged for the last 7 years from the White House.
1
This union is clearly overstepping its bounds, despite what their contract says. The punishment for criminal behavior is incarceration, not beatings. The union defending criminal behavior is unconscionable. I am a union advocate, but this type of behavior is completely unacceptable.
Union officials should be prosecuted as accessories every time they defend an alleged criminal guard. I also believe that in NYS, contracts can be imposed for a year if negotiations fail.
Union officials should be prosecuted as accessories every time they defend an alleged criminal guard. I also believe that in NYS, contracts can be imposed for a year if negotiations fail.
4
Thanks for investigative journalism! My first guess is that the recruitment of guards should also be considered: what kind of person is being hired in the first place?
2
This problem needs to fall flat on the lap of Gov. Cuomo. He is supposed to be a leader, but he is obviously a weak, little pawn for the corrections union. The U.S. Attorney must seat a grand jury and investigate the union president, Michael B. Powers. His comment to the NYT that he would use "any and all resources necessary" to protect the abusive prison guards, sounds like an implied threat of physical violence toward anyone who gets in his way. I ask Mr. Powers, what are you talking about?
3
This is exactly the kind of behavior that turns the American public against unions.
I understand that not all unions operate this way. But, the primary purpose of a union is to protect its members at all costs and FROM any and all costs.
Deputy Martuscello would be doing this country a tremendous service if he managed to crush the corrections' union.
I understand that not all unions operate this way. But, the primary purpose of a union is to protect its members at all costs and FROM any and all costs.
Deputy Martuscello would be doing this country a tremendous service if he managed to crush the corrections' union.
3
Is the marijuana Mr. Powers smoking legal? Something is obviously making him delusional.
4
To protect and serve themselves.
5
Prison needs to be the incarnation of hades. I have no - zero - nada sympathy for these inmates.
For the past 30 years, crime has been held in check. It's been held in check despite attempts by the 'illuminati' to provide all manner of luxuries to these felons.
Make it miserable. It's what they understand.
For the past 30 years, crime has been held in check. It's been held in check despite attempts by the 'illuminati' to provide all manner of luxuries to these felons.
Make it miserable. It's what they understand.
You're a sick puppy.
3
And then when they return to the living world from Hades, many of the hatehardened embittered ex- cons take their revenge upon innocent passing strangers in the street, upon women, children and the elderly.
Meanwhile, the cops and the COs, with their overtime doubling their wages, are laughing all the way to the bank at the expense of everyone else.
While their political masters stay in office and enjoy the perks of their corruption.
Meanwhile, the cops and the COs, with their overtime doubling their wages, are laughing all the way to the bank at the expense of everyone else.
While their political masters stay in office and enjoy the perks of their corruption.
3
This article is almost too sickening to read. We need a background story on how this prison guard dictatorship is allowed to take so much power.
Why in a country that’s weakened every type of employee union, is this union ‘a powerful political force’, like fiefdoms making their own rules. Other unions aren’t even allowed to exist in many states.
Why is the Dept of Corrections ‘subservient to this union’? Why do guards know they can get away with brutality and cover up? They’re like criminal organizations using violence to show who is boss in the prisons---and they show who is boss of our state govt.
The guards have ‘privacy protections’ that the union won? So they can act out their sadistic impulses with freedom. Must be more than ‘a few bad apples, as they say’. How can a guard rape someone on camera, knowing it’s recorded and not be charged and jailed? Why is reform a matter of Cuomo expending political capital to confront the union? What is their hold over Cuomo, lawmakers, investigators?
Why is the union president ‘confident that the bill was going nowhere’ to terminate officers convicted of misdemeanor. So what level of crime is beating, killing or raping a prisoner? What level of crime is it for civilians? What is really going on here, NYT?
Why in a country that’s weakened every type of employee union, is this union ‘a powerful political force’, like fiefdoms making their own rules. Other unions aren’t even allowed to exist in many states.
Why is the Dept of Corrections ‘subservient to this union’? Why do guards know they can get away with brutality and cover up? They’re like criminal organizations using violence to show who is boss in the prisons---and they show who is boss of our state govt.
The guards have ‘privacy protections’ that the union won? So they can act out their sadistic impulses with freedom. Must be more than ‘a few bad apples, as they say’. How can a guard rape someone on camera, knowing it’s recorded and not be charged and jailed? Why is reform a matter of Cuomo expending political capital to confront the union? What is their hold over Cuomo, lawmakers, investigators?
Why is the union president ‘confident that the bill was going nowhere’ to terminate officers convicted of misdemeanor. So what level of crime is beating, killing or raping a prisoner? What level of crime is it for civilians? What is really going on here, NYT?
6
Meredith, you really don't know the answer to your questions? "Why.....a matter of...expending political capital......?" "Why.....the bill was going nowhere......?' Easy answer. Democrat politicians are beholden to public employee unions. Look at how the public employee unions trashed the Wisconsin statehouse a few years back and organized a recall of Republican Gov. Scott Walker because he had the nerve to roll back some union power. Wise up America.
'New York's prison boom got underway in the 1980s when the state built 30 new correctional facilities.
Prevailing high crime – mostly drug-fueled – and harsh statutory sentencing ranges quickly filled them; the inmate population swelled from 30,000 in 1983 to 64,000 by 1993.
This occurred mostly under Gov. Mario Cuomo, who some say, felt compelled to be tough on crime and big on prisons to fend off fierce criticism of his opposition to the death penalty.
The Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS) budget swelled to become one of the largest of any state agency and now consumes 60 percent of all Albany's spending on security, with the balance divided up by 12 other agencies, including the state police.'
https://tinyurl.com/o754zwv
Prisons in the State of New York (and in the City of New York) have long been a big business. Often, the prisons provide the only local well-paid employment.
Finding work in the prisons is not about what you know. It's about whom you know. Loyalty to your uniformed tribe is all. Spill the beans on a fellow CO? At best, you will be bullied out of your job. At worst, expect to suffer the fate of anyone who informs on the gang.
The police and the prisons are two of a kind. Vets get preferences because they are trained in violence. And they follow the code of loyalty to the rest of the band whatever happens
But most important of all is the money.
http://www.vera.org/files/price-of-prisons-new-york-fact-sheet.pdf
Prevailing high crime – mostly drug-fueled – and harsh statutory sentencing ranges quickly filled them; the inmate population swelled from 30,000 in 1983 to 64,000 by 1993.
This occurred mostly under Gov. Mario Cuomo, who some say, felt compelled to be tough on crime and big on prisons to fend off fierce criticism of his opposition to the death penalty.
The Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS) budget swelled to become one of the largest of any state agency and now consumes 60 percent of all Albany's spending on security, with the balance divided up by 12 other agencies, including the state police.'
https://tinyurl.com/o754zwv
Prisons in the State of New York (and in the City of New York) have long been a big business. Often, the prisons provide the only local well-paid employment.
Finding work in the prisons is not about what you know. It's about whom you know. Loyalty to your uniformed tribe is all. Spill the beans on a fellow CO? At best, you will be bullied out of your job. At worst, expect to suffer the fate of anyone who informs on the gang.
The police and the prisons are two of a kind. Vets get preferences because they are trained in violence. And they follow the code of loyalty to the rest of the band whatever happens
But most important of all is the money.
http://www.vera.org/files/price-of-prisons-new-york-fact-sheet.pdf
4
As the spouse of a current NY Corrections officer, I have a bit of an inside take on this one. (I should also add that I myself sought the same position once as well)
Yes, there are situations where some COs who really shouldn't be working for the state anymore still are, and stay employed by combination of the union and their administrative connections (The escape in Clinton last year could have been prevented, perhaps, if the bedcheck that should have been done was done sometime around 2 a.m. Reportedly the officers on duty that night were allowed to sort of sleep off the shift, because seniority. And you haven't heard abiout them getting disciplined).
But I really think on the whole the Times basically let itself get spun here. I have seen firsthand just how heavy the department's disciplinary hand on its employees can be (viz. last year's incident on Green Haven and what happened afterwards. Funny that the article does not mention the guy who got suspended for forgetting to leave his phone in the car, then found that DOCCS's "investigators" had shared the nude photos on it of himself and his girlfriend in compromising positions with not only other officers but INMATES. Perhaps it doesn't fit the narrative of a department cowed by its employees' union (Or maybe it would demonstrate why they need to have one to Mr. "they already have civil service" elsewhere in the comments. The guy still hasn't gotten the phone back).
Yes, there are situations where some COs who really shouldn't be working for the state anymore still are, and stay employed by combination of the union and their administrative connections (The escape in Clinton last year could have been prevented, perhaps, if the bedcheck that should have been done was done sometime around 2 a.m. Reportedly the officers on duty that night were allowed to sort of sleep off the shift, because seniority. And you haven't heard abiout them getting disciplined).
But I really think on the whole the Times basically let itself get spun here. I have seen firsthand just how heavy the department's disciplinary hand on its employees can be (viz. last year's incident on Green Haven and what happened afterwards. Funny that the article does not mention the guy who got suspended for forgetting to leave his phone in the car, then found that DOCCS's "investigators" had shared the nude photos on it of himself and his girlfriend in compromising positions with not only other officers but INMATES. Perhaps it doesn't fit the narrative of a department cowed by its employees' union (Or maybe it would demonstrate why they need to have one to Mr. "they already have civil service" elsewhere in the comments. The guy still hasn't gotten the phone back).
5
They're the "best in the nation" at what they do. But what is it that they do that they are best at? Practicing criminal behavior?
In small towns upstate it may be difficult to get a conviction, but why aren't there prosecutions and convictions downstate? What about prisons in NYC? Why aren't the police and district attorneys investigating and prosecuting these public offenders?
And, most significantly, why hasn't governor Cuomo removed the DAs?
In small towns upstate it may be difficult to get a conviction, but why aren't there prosecutions and convictions downstate? What about prisons in NYC? Why aren't the police and district attorneys investigating and prosecuting these public offenders?
And, most significantly, why hasn't governor Cuomo removed the DAs?
8
Union president Powers claims,"We're the best at what we do...best in the nation." Clearly, in truth they're among the very worst.
8
This is a test book example how political influence and pandering inexorably erodes management rights and gives a labor union control of the collective bargaining agreement. This is the fundamental reason why even George Meany (AFL-CIO) was opposed to collective bargaining for public employees. Presumably Governor Cuomo and his predecessors thought it unimportant since the only victims are prisoners. They were wrong! We are all victims when government allows barbaric behavior on whomever. Shame on Governor Cuomo.
5
“We’re the best at what we do,” he said, “best in the nation.”
It sounds as though they are the best in the nation at being corrupt and defying any accountability. Beating someone up after they talk to the New York Times? Wow. Just wow. These people clearly think they are absolutely untouchable.
I believe they will ultimately find out that this is not true, thanks to the New York Times.
It sounds as though they are the best in the nation at being corrupt and defying any accountability. Beating someone up after they talk to the New York Times? Wow. Just wow. These people clearly think they are absolutely untouchable.
I believe they will ultimately find out that this is not true, thanks to the New York Times.
4
Being a correction officer is no easy job today.With the closure of the state run mental institutions the prisons are now the new mental health wards for the criminals.The leaders in Albany need to understand that the officers lives matter too.There are abt 60 inmates to 1 officer who is armed with a radio for help & that is it.Now put into the mix of the "regular" inmates, more and more mentally unstable inmates who make even worse decisions, do not understand cause and effect d/t their mental illnesses and have no or little common sense or impulse control.I do not condone excessive force,but there has to be a balance of who's in charge.The leaders in Albany, in my opinion, are allowing the inmates to be in charge.That is a poor & in this case dangerous management practice.It is very easy for those in Albany to dole out directives when they are not on the front lines with the inmates.Although most will say they have worked with the inmates, if not recently, they don't know the new breed.It's easy to pass judgement when you're not on those front lines.The pengelum has swung too far the other way.These are prisoners,already convicted of terrible crimes from baby rape to murder.The prisons listed are maximum security,so they have the worst of the worst there.These officers put their lives on the line every day they go to work,who is caring about that?Wake up society.Leaders in Albany,do the right thing,stand by your staff,you trained them well in the academy.Be leaders...
3
But is it right for the union to protect rapists and murderers? People with authority need to be upheld to a higher standard. These people are worse than the inmates.
4
No Roger, like all companies and businesses you have the good and the bad. I work in healthcare and I can tell you there are people who are bad there too, but for the most part the people are doing good. Are you aware that officers are assaulted by inmates in a fee vulgar basis and that a female officer had her nipples bit off by an inmate befiore he raped and killed her an put her body in the trash? 98% of the offices are exceptional. I'm sure if you work you can name a few employees that are less than stellar. Labeling all officers is wrong, it's discriminatory to say the least. Remember the population we are speaking of, they are not orphan children to feel sorry for.
Trish, you are referring to the brutal murder of CO Donna Payant on 15 May 1981 by the forty-year-old serial killer, paranoid schizophrenic and religious maniac Lemuel Warren Smith (23 July 1941-).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemuel_Smith
In my view, Smith was about as good a poster boy for the death penalty as could be imagined. If Smith had been put to death then Ms Payant could not have become his victim. Ms Payant was the first female CO in the US to be murdered inside a prison.
https://tinyurl.com/pcgghv8
To date, Ms Payant is the only New York State female CO to have been murdered while on duty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Payant
Note, according to the NYT, Ms Payant was not raped by her murderer.
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/07/nyregion/two-time-murderer-accused-of-...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemuel_Smith
In my view, Smith was about as good a poster boy for the death penalty as could be imagined. If Smith had been put to death then Ms Payant could not have become his victim. Ms Payant was the first female CO in the US to be murdered inside a prison.
https://tinyurl.com/pcgghv8
To date, Ms Payant is the only New York State female CO to have been murdered while on duty.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Payant
Note, according to the NYT, Ms Payant was not raped by her murderer.
http://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/07/nyregion/two-time-murderer-accused-of-...
1
This is horrifying.
2
Clearly, the State should be overseeing such matters. How could we, as a democracy have allowed a union to police itself? We understand that those who live of the prison industry would be reluctant to give up their goose that lays the golden eggs. But by allowing them, our entire society smacks of the filth of corruption. The laws must be changed so that the State, not the unions can punish those guilty of abusing their authority. Or else, to be fair, let all the unions have such absolute power.
11
If they think they are the best at what they do I am terrified for the inmates and disgusted by the cruelty the officers exhibit without being held responsible for their actions. How can anyone enjoy inflicting pain on another?
11
"The vilest deeds
like poison weeds
thrive well in prison air.
It's only what is good in man
that wastes and withers there"
---Oscar Wilde
How worse it would be without a free press. A big Thank You to the NY Times.
like poison weeds
thrive well in prison air.
It's only what is good in man
that wastes and withers there"
---Oscar Wilde
How worse it would be without a free press. A big Thank You to the NY Times.
1
It's called sadism.
1
Does the FBI not exist in upstate NY? Isn't this the kind of official corruption they're supposed to investigate?
6
It is not corruption, its the rules that liberal Democrats gave them in exchange for their money and votes.
"Can the state rein the union in?" WHAT QUESTION IS THAT?! What is wrong with New York State when we allow our penal system to be hijacked by FOR PROFITS that run prisons and a union that not only covers up but PROMOTES a culture of abuse and incompetence and illegal activity. We in this state can marvel at the goings on in backward places like North Carolina et. al. for draconian so cial policies but we have no one to blame but ourselves for the sorry state of affairs here at home. WHAT are Albany legislators actually paid for? Am I the only one who looks at what goes on in that cesspool of corruption and wonder at the flagrant violations of all ethical behavior? If the STATE can't dictate it's own penal policies then WHO CAN?!
5
for-profit prisons are illegal in nys.
4
Thank you
Until people stop voting in Democrats; nothing will change.
Unions MUST be removed from the government, or the people will continue to be at the mercy of the unelected bureaucrats of the Union Halls.
Unions MUST be removed from the government, or the people will continue to be at the mercy of the unelected bureaucrats of the Union Halls.
"The chairman of the corrections committee in the State Senate, Patrick M. Gallivan, a Republican who represents an area outside Buffalo and Rochester, has five prisons in his district alone."
7
Mark,
It's the GOP that's been pushing to have prisons "privatized" and run by for profit corporations.
It's the GOP that's been pushing to have prisons "privatized" and run by for profit corporations.
1
As a society, we have to prioritize "conflict of interest" as unacceptable if we are going to put an end to it's inevitable abuse.
These injustices are an example of what "self-monitoring" institutions lead to.
A healthy democracy requires vigilance. And "conflicts of interest" shield people from their accountability to it.
These injustices are an example of what "self-monitoring" institutions lead to.
A healthy democracy requires vigilance. And "conflicts of interest" shield people from their accountability to it.
5
The very wealthy Governor Nelson Rockefeller really emboldened the Persecutor/Police/Prison Empire with passage of very strong anti-public-anti-drugs legislation for even the simplest of non-violent offenses that led to this day of what I call, the Evil Empire State. Perhaps now after this article and others, you understand why I am so appalled at the brute force with which this state imprisons it's people, even in their own homes, and for what? To watch more decades of cop shows.
3
Wouldn't it be fun to know who gave the unions all this power?
So much that the employees run the place?
It would make a great expose, full of political corruption!
What else is new?
So much that the employees run the place?
It would make a great expose, full of political corruption!
What else is new?
3
I'm leery of painting all "Corrections Officers" with the same nasty brush when it seems more than likely that there are both upstanding ones and some number (perhaps a significant number) of self-loathing sadists in their ranks. But every profession, from physicians to electricians to manicurists, has its bad apples, and whether they belong to an informal guild (physicians) or a real union (corrections officers), they are protected by their own. Do you know of the last time your state brought down the full measure of discipline on a physician or a manicurist?
This is NOT to excuse the behavior of New York's sadistic corrections officers who are protected by their union, nor is it to criticize all unions (I'm generally a union supporter). It seems that in NY, at least, the corrections officers' union's power needs to be radically reduced and the state's legislature should be called to account by voters for ceding control of the corrections system. But think also about the situation more broadly: why do we, as a society, allow guilds and unions such a free hand when that is not always in the public interest?
Last, what's the story in private (contract) prisons? If New York cannot provide some semblance of humanity in prisons under its direct control, shouldn't we know more about what's going on in private ones?
This is NOT to excuse the behavior of New York's sadistic corrections officers who are protected by their union, nor is it to criticize all unions (I'm generally a union supporter). It seems that in NY, at least, the corrections officers' union's power needs to be radically reduced and the state's legislature should be called to account by voters for ceding control of the corrections system. But think also about the situation more broadly: why do we, as a society, allow guilds and unions such a free hand when that is not always in the public interest?
Last, what's the story in private (contract) prisons? If New York cannot provide some semblance of humanity in prisons under its direct control, shouldn't we know more about what's going on in private ones?
2
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, is on the take as are the state legislature.
Nothing will be done unless and until voters get honest about what they are supporting.
This is an ongoing criminal enterprise supported by the New York political class.
Nothing will be done unless and until voters get honest about what they are supporting.
This is an ongoing criminal enterprise supported by the New York political class.
2
Unfortunately, many Americans are very enamored with the idea of law enforcement officers as cowboys or vigilantes. Eye for eye, tooth for a tooth, swift justice, etc. Basically, because officers have to deal criminals, they have a license to act like criminals themselves.
Guards, like police officers on the street, have a tough job, and obviously there are many who do their jobs scrupulously. But the stakes are also very high when officers do their jobs wrong and abuse their powers. If we want to live in a society governed by the rule of law, instead of the Wild West, we have to develop a different law enforcement culture.
We can't purely blame officers themselves for the way things are (although the union in this article has gotten way out of hand,) and disavow all responsibility ourselves. After all, we pay their salaries. We vote in the officials whom their departments answer to. A lot of us have actively encouraged this problem culture, and many more have basically ignored it.
Any change has to start with the American public and our expectations.
Guards, like police officers on the street, have a tough job, and obviously there are many who do their jobs scrupulously. But the stakes are also very high when officers do their jobs wrong and abuse their powers. If we want to live in a society governed by the rule of law, instead of the Wild West, we have to develop a different law enforcement culture.
We can't purely blame officers themselves for the way things are (although the union in this article has gotten way out of hand,) and disavow all responsibility ourselves. After all, we pay their salaries. We vote in the officials whom their departments answer to. A lot of us have actively encouraged this problem culture, and many more have basically ignored it.
Any change has to start with the American public and our expectations.
7
Make the settlements paid to abused prisoners come from the Correction Officers pension fund.
They'll start policing themselves pretty quick.
They'll start policing themselves pretty quick.
13
This is institutionally thuggery, a clear case of where the unions have become a corrupt power.
7
Normally I'm quite pro-union, but in this case the power of the union has gotten out of hand. The union has gone far beyond protecting its members against abusive managerial practices, or representing them in negotiating employment benefits. The correctional officers have been, in practical terms, put above the law and put above scrutiny by the public that pays their salaries.
Sure, the union can defend its members against accusations of abuse, but when the members - public officials paid by the public - are basically ironclad against any disciplinary measure, things have gone way too far.
Sure, the union can defend its members against accusations of abuse, but when the members - public officials paid by the public - are basically ironclad against any disciplinary measure, things have gone way too far.
10
Mr. Powers said “We’re the best at what we do,” he said, “best in the nation.”
best at brutality, best at defending the indefensible, best at ensuring officers get their pensions, no matter what?
Mr Powers would not get a job in a cattery in the UK.
best at brutality, best at defending the indefensible, best at ensuring officers get their pensions, no matter what?
Mr Powers would not get a job in a cattery in the UK.
6
What was the situation before guard unions? Were abusive guards disciplined or fired a century ago? Seems unlikely. My guess is that guards have always taken care of each other, and continue to do so.
Putting the onus on the unions is a mistake; the problem has always existed. The real question is what to do. Video is a tool that is now available at very low cost; streaming video of every corner of a prison is a terrific idea. Same with body cameras. We can try.
I agree that the struggle between guards and inmates is inevitable given our justice system. Prisons are settings dominated by physical combat. We could, of course, try to reform the system, but my guess is that the folks who want to torture the inmates would never tolerate reasonable attempts to humanize a degrading enterprise.
Putting the onus on the unions is a mistake; the problem has always existed. The real question is what to do. Video is a tool that is now available at very low cost; streaming video of every corner of a prison is a terrific idea. Same with body cameras. We can try.
I agree that the struggle between guards and inmates is inevitable given our justice system. Prisons are settings dominated by physical combat. We could, of course, try to reform the system, but my guess is that the folks who want to torture the inmates would never tolerate reasonable attempts to humanize a degrading enterprise.
14
While much of what Mr. Walsh says makes sense, I cannot agree that "putting the onus" on the unions is a mistake. The unions, in particular the irresponsibly aggressive leadership, is a central part of the problem They protect guards who commit crimes, which makes that leadership implicit in the brutality. And, of course, they have intimidated politicians into believing that to question the unions is to be 'soft on crime.' So the brutality continues, and so does the immoral stance of the union leadership: defend every officer, no matter how horrific the crime.
Bravo. Reform will only come with consistent exposure of the abuses, neglect and illogic of the prison system. The authors should be congratulated for their courage in shedding light on how little accountability exists for abusive corrections officers and the blue wall of silence.
7
Really? 99.9 %....So the vast majority of 99.9% are so terrified of the rest that they routinely look the other way when crimes occur.
I will just say that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....Chances are, it's a duck
I will just say that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck....Chances are, it's a duck
4
This is so one sided it's disgusting officer on inmate to inmate on officer is disgusting like two a year comparing to over six hundred officers that got assaulted by inmates before the times puts stuff out they need to speak to all aspects of a department and not take a crook and a internal affairs word for it.speak to someone working the front lines not someone behind a desk all day or locked up on the other side of the bars.they should put out why the dept discourages officers from pressing outside charges when their assaulted that makes a good article this article is to liberal for me
1
Inmates are locked up because they are criminals. The guards are public employees who are paid to maintain order in accordance with the law, not to behave like criminals themselves. The two groups are not equivalent and should not be subject to equivalent expectations.
7
Are you even a high school graduate?
1
You DO get that we expect better behavior from law officers than we do from criminals, don't you?
And that good officers are not doing anything about the bad ones?
You say the article is too liberal. It is not conservative to beat up shackled prisoners. It's not even civilized.
And that good officers are not doing anything about the bad ones?
You say the article is too liberal. It is not conservative to beat up shackled prisoners. It's not even civilized.
6
1. This Union is an advertisement for Scott Walker, and conservatives who want to shut down organized labor
2. As an FYI, the officer who retired with a pension of $66k, that is worth $3.5M given the low yield on the 10 year bond (i.e. a private sector person would need to save $3.5M to enjoy the same payout)
3. If the Union supervises work rules, let the Union be responsible for paying for law suits and fines, not the tax payers
2. As an FYI, the officer who retired with a pension of $66k, that is worth $3.5M given the low yield on the 10 year bond (i.e. a private sector person would need to save $3.5M to enjoy the same payout)
3. If the Union supervises work rules, let the Union be responsible for paying for law suits and fines, not the tax payers
13
What's funny is here in the NYC area the Corrections Department runs radio spots to raise money from the public to support the correction officers and the dangerous work they do (lol dangerous to whom? defenseless and shackled prisoners, or against the steroid induced bruised knuckle one gets from punching someone on the ground?") !!
Laughable.
Laughable.
6
“We’re the best at what we do,” he said, “best in the nation.”
Unfortunately, “what we do” includes all forms of assault and battery. Not a record one should be proud of noting.
Unfortunately, “what we do” includes all forms of assault and battery. Not a record one should be proud of noting.
12
As a former INMATE of the NYS Dept. of Corrections, The everyday law abiding citizen does not really have a clear picture. I do not agree with a corrupt union, however, if you do not have a union to PROTECT the correction officers who will ? Let me share with you what was witnessed over a 4 year 7 month 5 prison stay. Only once did I witness a abusive officer, and that officer was not only removed from the department of corrections, but was arrested and convicted. Prisoners are not in prison for being choir boys, we were sent to prison because we did not conform to the rules of society, we committed violent crimes, we were not nice people.
I never saw a inmate get hurt who did not constitute a threat to a officer. I did see officers get hurt on many occasions for only doing their jobs, you know, like stopping another inmate from beating another with a padlock inside a sock. Oh yeah you should probably know that the inmate who was attacking the other inmate with the padlock, he filed a law suite against the Department of corrections, because he got a contusion to his head during the scuffle. Prisoners have access to some of the best law libraries in the state, and they can even hire a pretty good prison lawyer to file all the motions for about the price of a carton of cigarettes. Like I said if the UNION Can't protect the officers, who is going to ? I am telling you first hand, that 98% of corrections officers are there to do a job. But who knows perhaps I have stockholms
I never saw a inmate get hurt who did not constitute a threat to a officer. I did see officers get hurt on many occasions for only doing their jobs, you know, like stopping another inmate from beating another with a padlock inside a sock. Oh yeah you should probably know that the inmate who was attacking the other inmate with the padlock, he filed a law suite against the Department of corrections, because he got a contusion to his head during the scuffle. Prisoners have access to some of the best law libraries in the state, and they can even hire a pretty good prison lawyer to file all the motions for about the price of a carton of cigarettes. Like I said if the UNION Can't protect the officers, who is going to ? I am telling you first hand, that 98% of corrections officers are there to do a job. But who knows perhaps I have stockholms
20
i dont believe you were an ex-inmate. you write like someone posing as an ex-inmate. your writing is crafty. a few misspelt words, punctuation is poor but your clauses are well-structured and so are your paragraphs and arguments. i doubt few of those inmates present their arguments as structured and cogent.
your arguments mirror those of the union to a tee but your grammar looks contrived. the arguments stand. what doesnt stand is the appeal to emotion and authority because it looks like contrived. i don't believe you are who you say.
your arguments mirror those of the union to a tee but your grammar looks contrived. the arguments stand. what doesnt stand is the appeal to emotion and authority because it looks like contrived. i don't believe you are who you say.
6
Hmm, you sound like a Corrections Officer...
2
Where is the shame? We have become the old Soviet Union - or even worse. This is what I would expect from Hitler's Germany, not New York City in 2016.
This warrants a full and complete investigation. The management system itself must be held accountable and reformed.
This warrants a full and complete investigation. The management system itself must be held accountable and reformed.
15
Enough already.
Please Congress and Mr. President:
Don't ask the American people to support international endeavors with our taxes against inhumane treatment, torture, abuse and lack of respect for human rights in places like Syria, Rwanda, the Yazdi's, the Tutsi's, in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, UNTIL you can fund and correct the inhumane treatment of people in jails throughout America and New Jersey.
_Particularly those that may just have the few hundred dollars to get out on bail, while being innocent until proven guilty.
_Those that are juveniles.
_Those that belong in mental hospitals instead of fed to the sadists we call correction officers.
_Or the treatment of fathers in jail because of child support they can't pay (coercive incarceration in Bergen County N.J.)
_Or because an accused doesn't have good legal representation.
_Or because a particular county targets the disenfranchised to help with revenue.
If you ever want to see the biggest criminals in jail, just visit the parking lot during any shift change.
Please Congress and Mr. President:
Don't ask the American people to support international endeavors with our taxes against inhumane treatment, torture, abuse and lack of respect for human rights in places like Syria, Rwanda, the Yazdi's, the Tutsi's, in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, UNTIL you can fund and correct the inhumane treatment of people in jails throughout America and New Jersey.
_Particularly those that may just have the few hundred dollars to get out on bail, while being innocent until proven guilty.
_Those that are juveniles.
_Those that belong in mental hospitals instead of fed to the sadists we call correction officers.
_Or the treatment of fathers in jail because of child support they can't pay (coercive incarceration in Bergen County N.J.)
_Or because an accused doesn't have good legal representation.
_Or because a particular county targets the disenfranchised to help with revenue.
If you ever want to see the biggest criminals in jail, just visit the parking lot during any shift change.
7
One of the keys to this problem is how the state arbitrators are chosen. The article doesn't tell us that.
In the Postal Service, where I worked, the union and management had to agree on a list of arbitrators. This encouraged some of the arbitrators, some of the time, to remember that, in order to be employed in the next round, they had to give some favorable decisions to management or they wouldn't be put on the list again. Gradually a set of precedents built up that resulted in postal employees often being fired when it was deserved.
New York State has a long road to walk if they are really determined to fix this problem.
In the Postal Service, where I worked, the union and management had to agree on a list of arbitrators. This encouraged some of the arbitrators, some of the time, to remember that, in order to be employed in the next round, they had to give some favorable decisions to management or they wouldn't be put on the list again. Gradually a set of precedents built up that resulted in postal employees often being fired when it was deserved.
New York State has a long road to walk if they are really determined to fix this problem.
8
When Cuomo runs for president everyone should remember what he did or didn't do regarding ethics and the prisons. This is what leadership is all about, not the "fight for 15" commercials that are an exercise in self promotion.
6
Wow! A Republican who is not against Unions, but in fact is in their pocket! Amazing! Shocking! Revolting! Oh wait, no, it's just part of the Republican playbook.
On the other hand, this union, and others like it, are exactly why there are people and states that are trying to get rid of them. My pro-union stance ends when unions become mafia.
I am not surprised to learn that Cuomo is also in the pocket of the union. These union guys have deep deep pockets and strong armed their way around for decades.
There are two ways, expensive but no other ways, to stop this.
All new hires will no longer be unionized as the union will no longer be allowed.
And the state police starts arresting the thugs (and by thugs I am talking about the prison guards. They are no officer and I refuse to use that term for criminals), the DA's start criminal charges, and the thugs go into GENERAL population.
This is just beyond humanity. America: we aren't as pretty and happy-go-lucky as we learn in grade school. Americans are just as nasty as people from other countries, anywhere in the world.
On the other hand, this union, and others like it, are exactly why there are people and states that are trying to get rid of them. My pro-union stance ends when unions become mafia.
I am not surprised to learn that Cuomo is also in the pocket of the union. These union guys have deep deep pockets and strong armed their way around for decades.
There are two ways, expensive but no other ways, to stop this.
All new hires will no longer be unionized as the union will no longer be allowed.
And the state police starts arresting the thugs (and by thugs I am talking about the prison guards. They are no officer and I refuse to use that term for criminals), the DA's start criminal charges, and the thugs go into GENERAL population.
This is just beyond humanity. America: we aren't as pretty and happy-go-lucky as we learn in grade school. Americans are just as nasty as people from other countries, anywhere in the world.
4
Yes, this is exactly why people oppose public employee unions: they lead, inevitably, to corruption of our elected officials.
1
interestingly, no unions have figured in the 30 or so corruption convictions of state and local lawmakers in the past 20 years. they were all doing favors for businesses or law firms.
1
I don't understand all the commenters who are angry at the union because Gov. Cuomo and the Legislature don't do their jobs and run the prisons. The union doesn't write the contract, the state negotiates it with them. If the contract contains ridiculous job protections, it's because Cuomo gives them that rather than fair pay.
5
I'm astounded that a union would protect substandard workers. They uphold the highest standards at all times. Just look at how well our auto industry has performed over the years and our public schools, which are the envy of the world. The pictures are clearly fake, and this an elaborate hoax. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm on disability from my union job with back issues, and have to make it to my tee time.
7
And we're worried about the prisoners? These guys are thugs and we should be protected from them. After all, they inhabit general society.
8
Correct. That is why we have laws and put criminals in prisons. But prisoners, like everyone else, should be dealt with according to laws, not according to guards' whims.
10
I hope you know I meant the guards.
question - is this about public relations or meaningful change? headline reads like a press release from Corrections.
4
All you have to do is switch out the old names and put in the new names for this story to happen over and over again. It is abuse of power plain and simple and it happening in prisons all over the US. There has to be sweeping legislation to protect prisoners (men and women) from abusive guards and staff. I hope this happens soon.
14
This is why people hate unions. Anyone who is part of a union should be very concerned about this.
10
Unions are important to bring living wages and safe working conditions to employees. However, unions like the police union and the prison guards union give a bad name to all unions, and stand to further erode the union structure in our country. These unions, along with others who protect "bad apples", must allow themselves to be policed properly. This means that members who brutalize others, both police and guards, should be immediately dismissed. There should be mandatory psychological evaluation for all prison guards and police, and those who fail should be given desk jobs, or should not be allowed to work in these areas. Further, mandatory re-evaluation should be given every three years. We should not be treating our prisoners like animals, especially given the fact that 95% at some point return to society.
14
I would wonder at the role of unions in correctional systems in Europe where unions continue to be active and relevant like in Germany and the Scandinavian countries. Do unions for police and correctional officers have such extensive powers in shielding their members?
5
The prison system in Denmark is vastly different from the system here in the U.S. All inmates are given the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves, with proper and well thought out programs with the goal of stopping the cycle of crime. Studies reveal that it is working there, and other European countries, the polar opposite of what we have here.
1
The problem here is not necessarily the guard's labor union, the problem is politicians pandering for support from that same labor union. Consider for a moment that Governor Cuomo had no reluctance quickly pushing through gun control legislation without debate, but he sits idly by while these guards brutalize inmates and are protected by a one-sided labor contract. The contract is easy to fix, just give the negotiators backing. Nevertheless, shame on Governor Cuomo for allowing the status quo and not working for reform.
16
The trouble with all of this is that the mayor is best buddies with the CO union president. When push comes to shove , the mayor will back his closest friend, the union chief and the officers. Only time will tell.
8
I wonder why teacher unions are vilified, yet unions where a majority of members are men, aren't.
35
because the sole purpose of the teachers union is to protect the mediocre and bad teachers. to ensure that these teachers cannot be fired and will always have a job (supposedly) educating the future leaders of this country and the world. when my 5th grade daughter comes home with a list of state capitals, and only 46 are correct, thats a problem for me. when my daughter tells me there are 9 planets and i email the teacher that pluto is not a planet, and the reponse is, "our textbooks are outdated and still list pluto, so thats what we teach" , thats a problem for me. is that not a problem for you?
6
Ann, did you interpret that article as NOT vilifying the CO union? Both unions are dismal and bad for the country and its citizens.
1
Bored critic: you want better teachers, pay the teachers better. good experienced teachers are running away from the profession as contracts get worse and worse. No doubt you are a tax cutter who'd prefer to have an extra $10 in your pocket a month than a school system that meets your particular standards.
2
Kudos to the Times and the Marshall Project for keeping on these stories of brutality. Hopefully change will follow. If our elected representatives can't figure it out, then the federal prosecutors should take them down as complicit, and we should replace them in the next election.
28
What is exactly new in the laws or rules here? A few more investigators and a rally? Good article regarding why the deck is stacked towards the union.
6
As a member of two unions (one since I was 16) I must say that if you believe in union representation for working people, we must eliminate union corruption, not enable it. Politicians do no service to unionization by turning a blind eye toward this type of abuse. Rather, unions should be at the forefront of maintaining high professional standards, not just negotiate contracts. Otherwise they leave the door open to their demise. And saying so should be cover enough for weak politicians for whom doing the right thing isn't first on their agenda.
80
Michael,
You are absolutely right. I am generally sympathetic to unionization, but reading cases like this makes me want to see them abolished.
The unions need to stop protecting people who engage in misconduct. That is not their job. Their job is to ensure a high level of professionalism so that we can feel good about giving prison guard professionals living wages for their hard work and dedication.
But I am afraid I am very skeptical. I think the union just has to go. I do not believe they are capable of change.
You are absolutely right. I am generally sympathetic to unionization, but reading cases like this makes me want to see them abolished.
The unions need to stop protecting people who engage in misconduct. That is not their job. Their job is to ensure a high level of professionalism so that we can feel good about giving prison guard professionals living wages for their hard work and dedication.
But I am afraid I am very skeptical. I think the union just has to go. I do not believe they are capable of change.
1
I'm not sure why there are no pictures of the female officer who had her nipples bit off prior to the inmate killing her, or the officer with the broken arm and concussion in any these pictures??......only the poor inmates......wake up people.
Trish, two wrongs don't make a right. Ever.
The bad prison guards need to be weeded out. No one is going to be distracted by your attempts to change the subject.
We already know that prison guards have to deal with some people with very terrible behavior issues. It is a tough job that deserves to be fairly compensated.
But it is never okay for a prison guard to be unprofessional. We expect them to act according the highest standards, not the standards of the worse of the people who are incarcerated.
A prison guard is suspected of sexual assault and continues to have unsupervised access to women inmates? How could that ever be acceptable in any civilized society?
Circling the wagons is not going to help. The prison guards who have high ethics need to stand up against those who do not. And it is never okay to retaliate against a fellow prison guard who blows the whistle.
The bad prison guards need to be weeded out. No one is going to be distracted by your attempts to change the subject.
We already know that prison guards have to deal with some people with very terrible behavior issues. It is a tough job that deserves to be fairly compensated.
But it is never okay for a prison guard to be unprofessional. We expect them to act according the highest standards, not the standards of the worse of the people who are incarcerated.
A prison guard is suspected of sexual assault and continues to have unsupervised access to women inmates? How could that ever be acceptable in any civilized society?
Circling the wagons is not going to help. The prison guards who have high ethics need to stand up against those who do not. And it is never okay to retaliate against a fellow prison guard who blows the whistle.
2
"Asked whether brutality was a problem, Mr. Powers replied, “What are you talking about?”"
There is a tiny - sometimes non-existent - line running between the prison guards and the inmates. The Union is essentially a latter-day mafia with complete impunity and support from (both Democrat and Republican) legislature.
This is the ideal job for sociopaths.
There is a tiny - sometimes non-existent - line running between the prison guards and the inmates. The Union is essentially a latter-day mafia with complete impunity and support from (both Democrat and Republican) legislature.
This is the ideal job for sociopaths.
46
"The Union is essentially a latter-day mafia"
Time for Preet Bahara to get going with a RICO action.
Time for Preet Bahara to get going with a RICO action.
1
What is the public expectancy of any modern prison? These institutions are inherently designed to punish the criminals they house and empower the men and women who are guards working in them. I won't get into the debate on rehabilitation, whether it works or not. We have a contained place with too many inhabitants and overworked guards and little resources. Maybe it's time this country, which has more prisons than most, realizes that soon there's going to be an explosion. The casualties will be the public as usual. Isn't it time to re-think the whole idea of modern prisons? The public needs to decide soon.
12
too many prisoners. so is the answer to just not put anyone in prison any more? perhaps we need self sustaining and self governing prisons on islands, like french guiana was. just put there, prisoners in charge, and send a boat when someones sentence is up.
Modern enough that they get cable pizza parties and ice cream don't seem like anyone being tortured lol smh probably the correction officers because they have to watch these rapist and murderers party
Corrections officers over worked? I was employed in two maximum security DOCS facilities and most corrections officers have little to do during their shifts so mostly they sit around chatting with one another. You do have officers who work hard and take on duties above their assignments (like actually interacting with inmates). When I asked why there were so many CO's without much work I was told it was "just in case something happens."
2
What a strange situation and a strange society New York lives in.......and New York keeps permitting the guards to run the show. Send in the clowns? Don't bother, they're here.......
4
This kind of stuff clearly states that the US is not a civilized country. I think that it would be better for the people encountering a police officer to just have a shoot out with him or her as that is the only place where they will be able to have an equal playing field. Either kill or be killed. Because once they have you locked up in a prison or a jail they are going to abuse you physically, mentally, sexually, and what else and you have virtually no recourse. What is $175,000 when you have been beaten down to a pulp and you are still in a prison.
Any inmate who is beaten by a guard must get an immediate release from prison...this is the punishment for the state to physically torturing an inmate plus punitive monetary damages along with the guard being immediately fired.
Any inmate who is beaten by a guard must get an immediate release from prison...this is the punishment for the state to physically torturing an inmate plus punitive monetary damages along with the guard being immediately fired.
11
Our prisons are run by thugs? .......bedding, food service, laundry....wait a minute....it's a Huge institution, no? Sort of like a Big Big business. Again, the biggest business in housing men and women on the planet.
But don't we want to keep gov't out of our lives? Allow businesses to thrive?
Drive around the US. Drive through cities that "depend" on the prison system to exist. If you build a economy on opiates instead of Medical Marijuana because it's profitable for drug companies to keep people in Pain for Profit, and, if you build an economy on forced prison housing to keep "those" people somehwere while we destroy their neighborhoods for profit...well then. What to expect?
Time to look at our American Values.
But don't we want to keep gov't out of our lives? Allow businesses to thrive?
Drive around the US. Drive through cities that "depend" on the prison system to exist. If you build a economy on opiates instead of Medical Marijuana because it's profitable for drug companies to keep people in Pain for Profit, and, if you build an economy on forced prison housing to keep "those" people somehwere while we destroy their neighborhoods for profit...well then. What to expect?
Time to look at our American Values.
20
you make it sound like the prisons are country club resorts. Maybe in Arizona with sheriff Joe/Blow Arpaio but not anywhere else.
2
Tipping his hat at the security camera while raping an inmate? Really???
I did a bit of Google searching on this. The corrections officer in question, James Ford, repeatedly raped the inmate and was eventually sentenced to three years. The young woman gave birth to a premature infant who died soon after birth.
Three years!!! And he became eligible for parole in December 2014.
It should be screamingly obvious that female inmantes are at high risk of sexual assault. Why does no one care enough to put proper safeguards in place?
I did a bit of Google searching on this. The corrections officer in question, James Ford, repeatedly raped the inmate and was eventually sentenced to three years. The young woman gave birth to a premature infant who died soon after birth.
Three years!!! And he became eligible for parole in December 2014.
It should be screamingly obvious that female inmantes are at high risk of sexual assault. Why does no one care enough to put proper safeguards in place?
80
I would say that karma will get him in the end but at 67, he has already done more evil than most people combined. Shame on the Department of Corrections and all those guards who let this happen.
2
Sorry liberals, but you wanted the public sector unions. You reap what you sow. And don't even get me started about public school teacher's unions - they most certainly are NOT for "the children."
7
Interesting that it's the Republican from Buffalo who protects these thugs in the legislature, though, isn't it? And that it's Democrats who are exposing the abuses and want reforms. I guess your solution would be... privatization? And even less oversight?
11
If only it were that simple. Unions were developed to balance managerial actions which were often abusive. Alternatively, some unions have overbalanced management as in this case. I'll put my money on weak management of the NY Department of Corrections who were ineffective in responding to the challenge by this out of control group
3
We have all heard, and most of us know all too well, power corrupts. These unions, similar to the wealth, think they can get away with murder and too often they are right. Wouldn't it be great if "justice for all" were a reality, but it is only a pipe dream.
6
When the chairs are pushed back from the table and the acquitted officer and his union rep congratulate themselves on excusing his brutal conduct and maintaining the status quo in the closed world of the penitentiary, the inmate filing the complaint is not the only loser. An officer who bullies, is gratuitously aggressive and quick with his fists at work is also a spouse, a partner, a parent and a neighbor who carries that attitude and those deeds into his personal life, ruining his relationships and often destroying those who love him.
Union policies which defend and protect abusers work to undermine not only the correctional officers but his family as well. Protecting him time and again is dishonorable.
Union policies which defend and protect abusers work to undermine not only the correctional officers but his family as well. Protecting him time and again is dishonorable.
50
Thank you for making this very important point!
2
"The system is rigged." This is another example where the American Democratic ideal of the Rule of Law and due process is subordinated to a corrupt political system. It may not be unpalatable to the Unions to have felons protected so the Union boss protects his unconscionable power, but it should not be unpalatable for the Justice Department to prosecute not only the criminals who are employed as guards, but all those within the Corrections system who aid and abet, are accessories after the fact, and who conspire to deprive various inmates of their civil rights, regardless of contract provisions. Pressure should be aimed at the Justice Department, because Albany politicians, including the Governor are cowards, pure and simple. Disgusting.
14
I'm not happy when law enforcement unions defend bad behavior and then stick the taxpayer with the lawsuits and legal judgements. I'd like to see laws that transfer liability from the state and local governments and assign it to the unions that defend these criminals. Once liability for these crimes starts hitting officers' union dues and take-home pay then we'll see a steep drop in these acts.
25
Colonelpanic: you write: "I'd like to see laws that transfer liability from the state and local governments and assign it to the unions that defend these criminals."
This makes such perfect sense I'm amazed that this is the first mention of it I've seen. If the unions were liable for the civil suit costs of psychopathic officers instead of taxpayers, the repercussions of abuses might begin to shift behaviors or at least oversight.
This makes such perfect sense I'm amazed that this is the first mention of it I've seen. If the unions were liable for the civil suit costs of psychopathic officers instead of taxpayers, the repercussions of abuses might begin to shift behaviors or at least oversight.
5
Thank you, Harley.
Now there are at least two of us who can lobby our politicians to help out the taxpayers, and the physical victims on this.
Now there are at least two of us who can lobby our politicians to help out the taxpayers, and the physical victims on this.
1
Why aren't there cameras installed in jails and prisons to oversee the behavior of the Prisoners and the Guards? It is time we had a "3rd" eye in the jails, as we now have on Police. Cameras will remove the anonymity from prisons who abuse fellow inmates and to oversee Guards; cameras will immediately reduce these costly abuses.
6
Because the guards will disable the cameras with impunity. Furthermore, the guards union will declare the addition of cameras a mandatory subject of bargaining and tie-up the subject in endless bargaining.
4
The column illustrates the core problem of public unions operating in a democracy:
"Last month, the governor’s office introduced a bill that would allow the department to unilaterally terminate officers convicted of a misdemeanor; currently it takes a felony. To date, however, no lawmakers have sponsored the bill,"
Public unions can and do elect those that set their pay who return the favour by not sponsoring bills such as the one proposed and increasing benefits, such as defined pensions, the cost to be handed to future tax payers.
True unions, where labour faces factory owners, are not subject to such corrupting inducements.
"Last month, the governor’s office introduced a bill that would allow the department to unilaterally terminate officers convicted of a misdemeanor; currently it takes a felony. To date, however, no lawmakers have sponsored the bill,"
Public unions can and do elect those that set their pay who return the favour by not sponsoring bills such as the one proposed and increasing benefits, such as defined pensions, the cost to be handed to future tax payers.
True unions, where labour faces factory owners, are not subject to such corrupting inducements.
8
You know there's something terribly, terribly wrong when our corrections department is run by and employs thugs who are clearly no better than the prisoners they supervise. How is it possible that so many sadists can run roughshod through our prison system and nothing is done to stop them, let alone prosecute them for their numerous crimes?
The most frightening part of this article is when the union president, Michael Powers, expresses his utmost confidence that the corrections reform bill will go no where in the legislature. One shudders to think that money the union contributes to our corrupt New York State legislature is sufficient to quash this vital bill in committee. How is it possible that that level of disregard for human and civil rights can be so blatant in a civilized society? How can the rule of law and our constitution have so little meaning to our leaders?
Meanwhile, Governor Cuomo has done virtually nothing to deal with this problem. Sure his office introduced a bill but the governor has spent virtually no political capital to see that it gets ushered through the legislature. We know from Cuomo's lack of action in the past that we have a governor who isn't concerned about what happens in prisons in this state. I mean, how is it possible That Mr. Gallivan still hasn't heard from the governor's office and he's head of the corrections committee in the Senate.
I hope Preet Bharara continues to exam and evaluate evidence of corruption in the governor's office.
The most frightening part of this article is when the union president, Michael Powers, expresses his utmost confidence that the corrections reform bill will go no where in the legislature. One shudders to think that money the union contributes to our corrupt New York State legislature is sufficient to quash this vital bill in committee. How is it possible that that level of disregard for human and civil rights can be so blatant in a civilized society? How can the rule of law and our constitution have so little meaning to our leaders?
Meanwhile, Governor Cuomo has done virtually nothing to deal with this problem. Sure his office introduced a bill but the governor has spent virtually no political capital to see that it gets ushered through the legislature. We know from Cuomo's lack of action in the past that we have a governor who isn't concerned about what happens in prisons in this state. I mean, how is it possible That Mr. Gallivan still hasn't heard from the governor's office and he's head of the corrections committee in the Senate.
I hope Preet Bharara continues to exam and evaluate evidence of corruption in the governor's office.
158
Cuomo is a flip-flop liberal, who panders to the Republican legislature, priming the state for the eventual election of a Republican governor, no doubt. Don't look to him to step on the toes of those union thugs, where payola is alive and well, and so are veiled threats.
5
They are supposed to be screened vigorously prior to acceptance as a CO. I had a friend back in the 1980's who became a CO, so i know pretty well what the scoop is. We used to sit around and talk about it and later with some of the things that went on at his job. Psycological screens are done. You can say those tests are a joke. Pretty similar to what police officers go through. The whole process is a mess and needs overhauling, from top to bottom. We can see what the results have been from the setup they have now and have had for decades.
5
Bill Randle and Preet Bharara - New York
If I were to play "devil's advocate", I might ask if a Chairman of the Correction's Committee in the N.Y. State Senate were to have 5 prisons in his home district outside Buffalo, how on earth would he be re-elected without union contributions in his campaign coffers ?
Maybe we need to solve that "problem", first.
If I were to play "devil's advocate", I might ask if a Chairman of the Correction's Committee in the N.Y. State Senate were to have 5 prisons in his home district outside Buffalo, how on earth would he be re-elected without union contributions in his campaign coffers ?
Maybe we need to solve that "problem", first.
2
Public unions, especially those that represent law enforcement, should not have the power to shield their members from accountability for misconduct. It doesn't speak well for law enforcement personnel that this activity is nonetheless the most high profile work that public unions do. New York should change the law to bar involvement from union representatives in misconduct investigations and hearings, and to limit the scope of union assistance in challenging findings of misconduct.
Further, any conviction (misdemeanor or otherwise) relating to misconduct in the course of duty should be an absolute bar to continued employment in law enforcement - whether as an officer, an administrator, a union rep or an office assistant.
Further, any conviction (misdemeanor or otherwise) relating to misconduct in the course of duty should be an absolute bar to continued employment in law enforcement - whether as an officer, an administrator, a union rep or an office assistant.
43
This article merely describes the problem with all of the New York State public employee unions - highly paid, very difficult to fire no matter how bad the behavior. This is why New York has basically the highest taxes in the country and one of the worst business climates. But hey - at least we are maintaining public employee union jobs!
7
Definitely sado-masochism. I'd even venture to say some may join the prison staff just to get tough with the inmates, not all of which are violent, most non-violent.
Now I understand why there are occasional prisoner revolts.
This is the kind of union power abuse that gave rise to Governor Walker in Wisconsin.
Now I understand why there are occasional prisoner revolts.
This is the kind of union power abuse that gave rise to Governor Walker in Wisconsin.
4
Norman Seabrook who heads the correction officers Union is likely to be indicted in the next couple of weeks. Bharara has been circling him for a while according to the local press. The rumor is that Seabrook is trying to negotiate a plea deal in exchange for providing testimony against Mayor DeBlasio, some of his top aides, several city council people including the speaker, three state senators and four congress people. The NY Post, the News and now the Times have been leaking the story. Gregory Meeks is obviously also a target. According to people in the Clinton campaign office, Meeks is desperately trying to curry favor with Clinton people in the hopes of favorable treatment in the event she is elected as he likely is anticipating indictment this year which would mean a trial next year. Sheldon Silver is supposedly behind some of this as he tries to protect his family members. If Bharara indicts DeBlasio and his entire corrupt crew, Bharara likely will be the next Mayor.
2
Seabrook is the head of the NYC corrections officer union, not the New York State union (which is what is referred to in this article throughout).
5
So let me get this straight - guards rape inmates. If the inmates accuse them, nothing AT ALL happens to the guard. He keeps working with that same inmate, unmonitored, with the same power over her. What do you think happens to the inmate who reported the rape? Under those circumstances, how many rapes do you think get reported in the first place?
44
Kudos to the NYT and the Marshall project for connecting the dots between overwhelming Union influence and the politicians and bureaucrats who enable them.
Unions are not inimical to justice.
the fact that the corrections officers have taken steps to make themselves immune from reasonable oversight with the collusion of state actors speaks volumes.
Now the voters know whom to lobby for change. Whom to hold accountable for enforcing humane treatment for convicts and their families.
This is investigative journalism worth supporting.
Unions are not inimical to justice.
the fact that the corrections officers have taken steps to make themselves immune from reasonable oversight with the collusion of state actors speaks volumes.
Now the voters know whom to lobby for change. Whom to hold accountable for enforcing humane treatment for convicts and their families.
This is investigative journalism worth supporting.
36
“brutality by officers”.
Despite the harrowing nature of the pictures on display here, we are nudged once again into questioning the Republicans position on keeping Guantanamo open.
Why do Republicans insist on wasting tax payer dollars by molly coddling terrorists/potential terrorists in sunny Cuba? Why can’t those incarcerated there be transferred to mainland prisons to receive the sort of treatment meted out to Americans?
There would be no need for expensive torture practices involving “consultants”, as mainland guards would – based on the overwhelming evidence presented here - extract the necessary information, at no extra cost.
Despite the harrowing nature of the pictures on display here, we are nudged once again into questioning the Republicans position on keeping Guantanamo open.
Why do Republicans insist on wasting tax payer dollars by molly coddling terrorists/potential terrorists in sunny Cuba? Why can’t those incarcerated there be transferred to mainland prisons to receive the sort of treatment meted out to Americans?
There would be no need for expensive torture practices involving “consultants”, as mainland guards would – based on the overwhelming evidence presented here - extract the necessary information, at no extra cost.
3
A delightfully "modest proposal."
3
Not sure why the union protects these knuckle dragging sociopathic guards. In the end, it just makes the union look complicit in a cover up and degrades their legitimacy. Yes, they have the power to shelter them all. So what? Flexing their muscle for the sake of showing off is only going to backfire in the end. Time to cull the herd!
24
Wow - Finally somebody wakes up and sees that it is nearly impossible to fire public employees. Haven't we heard the same thing about teachers who wind up hanging around in the rubber room? Why do public employees need unions when they have civil service protection? If this were a private institution without unions Cuomo, the ACLU, and everybody else would be all over them. Funny once public employee unions are involved the Democratic politicians run for cover. Better to have the prisoners beaten up and huge settlements made than risk the campaign cash. It is as simple as that.
30
Actually, it is the Republican legislators who are most in bed with the State Corrections Union. As the article points out, the prisons (and the union members) are overwhelmingly in their Upstate Districts.
Of, course, the scales are politically balanced with Cuomo easily equalling, all by himself, the pandering of the Upstate Republicans.
Of, course, the scales are politically balanced with Cuomo easily equalling, all by himself, the pandering of the Upstate Republicans.
7
There is much abuse within private prisons as well - instead of unions supporting the politicians that in turn protect them, it is wealthy private companies.
2
It's hilarious you think democrats are the ones protecting the corrections officers union, Bill.
The culture of violence is rampant in America. And it has a lot of support in the community. Leading GOP POTUS candidate, Trump, says he wants more torture of "terrorists"--suspects who've been charged with nothing. He also says he supports privatization of prisons. Monetizing brutality.
11
"transfer problem officers"...how about firing them? This sounds like the Catholic church transferring their problem priests. Why should these people be allowed to practice their particular disfunction somewhere else?
93
Unions are important institutions to protect workers rights HOWEVER, they should never ever be used to give workers immunity from criminal acts like the actions described here. in view of the recent reports of our Mayor's relationship with the head of the City's prison unions leader, I'll bet it will take The federal prosecutor to sort that one out.
8
Given the number of people behind bars these days, I would guess the number of prison guards emploted is at an all time high. Like with any other business, finding and keeping good employees must be challenging. But when State employees cross the line and purposefully abuse prisoners - AND cost the State millions in lawsuits and settlements, these bad guys and gals must be held accountable and removed from the system. And, in turn, put behind the same bars as their victims, if found guilty of their crimes.
60
And why are the tax payers paying for inmates to sue the state? They're inmates, they lost their privileges when they committed their crimes.
@ Trish
Wow! Your comment is worthy of Scalia or Thomas in its negation of the humanity of people under state control.
Wow!
Wow! Your comment is worthy of Scalia or Thomas in its negation of the humanity of people under state control.
Wow!
3
What is wrong with all of us! How can we sit by and watch the most marginalized amongst us be abused and killed without any sense of justice. This story has a close parallel to the child abuse history in the catholic church (and other faiths), where society ignores the obvious. The criminals at the head of the guards union should be prosecuted and ALL guards held accountable. To the politicians in NY State and elsewhere stand up for what is right, not for the self interest of a few. Grow a spine! You have blood all over your hands if you do not.
God help us.
God help us.
62
This is why the FBI exists.
6
It seems like prison guards are like the police and the post office - we'd be well served by replacing everyone who's doing the job now and starting over with new people who can be properly trained to do the job right, without the toxic legacy of past practice, hatred, laziness, inefficiency, cover-up, tolerance for misconduct, etc.
5
Well, around here our Post Office people do a very good job.
6
Yep. The post office is a wonderfully efficient agency. For some reason, it seems to attract the snarky comments of everyone who has ever had a letter arrive late.
Same with Medicare. Medicare is a terrific way to manage medical benefits. The amount spent on administration is roughly 20% of the amount that commercial insurance companies spend.
But, folks who hate unions hate unions, and folks who insist that UPS is better at package delivery and Blue Cross is better at benefits admin will always be yapping.
Same with Medicare. Medicare is a terrific way to manage medical benefits. The amount spent on administration is roughly 20% of the amount that commercial insurance companies spend.
But, folks who hate unions hate unions, and folks who insist that UPS is better at package delivery and Blue Cross is better at benefits admin will always be yapping.
2
Correction officer brutality is hardly unique to New York. It's common in virtually every prison. The same goes for violence on the part of prisoners. Rather than reading solely about guard brutality over and over again, I'd prefer to get the whole picture. An account of how guard brutality fits in with inmate violence would paint the picture of what is wrong with our prisons. The whole picture is what we need to evaluate the prisons. Accounts of correction officer brutality tell an important story, but just half the story.
3
I guess I find it hard to understand how there are 'two sides' to every story where guards rape inmates in women's prisons. What could the 'other side' of that story possibly be? Was she asking for it?
8
Of course not. Maybe you didn't read the parts about correction officers beating up inmates which is the focus of most of the officer abuse accounts. Or maybe you're just Clem Kadiddlehopper, choosing to argue for the sake of argiung.
2
michjas, would you please answer Clem's question? What could the "other side" of a rape be?
3
Funny how the only union in this country with any clout anymore just coincidentally happens to be the police.
80
It's no coincidence. Police forces were set up to keep public order so as to allow commerce to proceed unhindered, and to punish the small guy who gets in the way of the wealthy.
4
You are way off the mark, Teachers are by far the most powerful union in this country.
1
"Teachers are by far the most powerful union in this country"
It never ceases to amaze me the utterly incorrect things people like MKM feel entitled to say when it's clear they have no idea what they're talking about.
It never ceases to amaze me the utterly incorrect things people like MKM feel entitled to say when it's clear they have no idea what they're talking about.
8
The problem is not that prison guards are bad, it's that the job of guarding prisoners is very attractive to a certain type of bad person. Same goes for Police work: it doesn't matter if there are only a few bad apples. These few are ruining the whole bunch because when you help cover up bad behavior or look the other way *you are now morally culpable*.
40
Violence, right there, permitted, guided, inflicted by government workers, allowed, encouraged by multiple government agencies. Where is the morality in the investigation process? How can an ethical workforce defend wrongdoing, regardless of the level of involvement? The correction officers union give unions across the country a bad name, because it does not embody the morality of a strong ethical union. Strong healthy behavior never includes violence.
86
You do realize these are convicted felons who have committed horrific crimes....no they don't deserve abuse, but when they don't follow directives, do tell me what the officers should do, or when the inmates are throwing urine and feces on them, do tell me what the offices should do, or when they are hitting the officers again tell me the tactic that would work. Better yet why don't you come into the prison and show us how it's done??
Show me a strong ethical union, and don't take me back to 1907.
I may have missed it in my aging mind but I read this article and do not see the name that must be in any article on Corrections in NY State. That name is Norman Seabrook. In my opinion the most power hungry corrupt person involved in NY State Corrections. As long as he is charge of the Union there is that old saying in NY...."fuhregdaboudit".
54
Hello Ernest,
Mr. Seabrook is president of COBA, the union representing New York City correction officers. We wrote about him here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/15/nyregion/at-rikers-a-roadblock-to-refo...
The president of the statewide union, NYSCOPBA, is Michael Powers.
Mr. Seabrook is president of COBA, the union representing New York City correction officers. We wrote about him here: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/15/nyregion/at-rikers-a-roadblock-to-refo...
The president of the statewide union, NYSCOPBA, is Michael Powers.
10
I appreciate that. Thank you.
This is exactly why FDR was against unionized government workers.
28
Unionization of government employees began to protect them from arbitrary actions against them based on political affiliation. I worked as a public employee for almost 35 years, and was a union member for about a dozen of those years until I was promoted to an executive position and had to leave the union. This didn't stop me from taking disciplinary action, including building a case for termination of employment, against union members - I terminated dozens of employees during my tenure, but only for performance issues. At one point later in my career the agency head had been told to fire me by the Mayor's Office. I was no longer a union member, but had civil service protection and was thus empowered to inform the Chairman that he could not fire me without a process. The Chairman was much relieved and was able to hide me away performing some other tasks for 6 months and then reassign me to another position somewhat out of the limelight. I liken that protection to that provided by a public employee union. The issue, as pointed out in the article, is that elected officials have allowed themselves to be bought by some public employee unions over the years for their own political reasons. It is up to those officials to undo the system they have helped create and return to public agencies the right to make decisions on transfers, continued employment, etc., through a process that will protect the employees' rights but not at the expense of reason and fairness.
8
How can Governor Cuomo fail to step up against decency?
13
Because...really... He s a very poor governor...he rode on the coattails of his old man...but he s not very good at his job...& he s a politician who cares more about contribution s & votes than doing what he should & can do to fix the problem out right.
4
This situation has taken many years to develop. Yes, Gov. Cuomo has not done all that much to change it, but his predecessors are as guilty as he is. Pols see union members as voters and pander to them.
3
" Barbara Kowaleski, a 26-year veteran of the corrections department, learned firsthand the price an officer can pay for reporting a fellow officer.
She sued the department, was later exonerated as a whistle-blower and awarded a $200,000 settlement. "
She really short changed herself too then!
I would have taken the rolling annuity as a whistle-blower as I thought one who reports may be entitled to collect from 10 - 30 percent of the monetary damages that's paid – which in some cases can be millions of dollars.
She sued the department, was later exonerated as a whistle-blower and awarded a $200,000 settlement. "
She really short changed herself too then!
I would have taken the rolling annuity as a whistle-blower as I thought one who reports may be entitled to collect from 10 - 30 percent of the monetary damages that's paid – which in some cases can be millions of dollars.
9
Why should the state (taxpayers) pay for their brutal actions? Let them pay from their own salary/savings/future income.
94
I have been saying this EXACT same thing about NYPD Settlements for years. In 2014 over $550,000,000 in settlements alone. Take it out of retirement funds and I GUARANTEE all the Malfeasance and murdering of unarmed Blacks will end instantly. Why aren't more New Yorkers upset by this? Half a BILLION in your Tax Dollars go to this?
117
Maybe because we were stupid enough to elect Gov. Cuomo.
4
Excellent comment.
Cops care only about two things:
1. Overtime
2. Pension
Take it out of their pension fund and cops will be tripping over one another to prevent their abuses.
Cops care only about two things:
1. Overtime
2. Pension
Take it out of their pension fund and cops will be tripping over one another to prevent their abuses.
1