"The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want."
Psalm 23:1
While the Governor of New York State insists that the strike and walkout by correction officers is over...
Psalm 23:1
While the Governor of New York State insists that the strike and walkout by correction officers is over...
...and for the most part it is, the negative after effects remain. Although all the state's prisons have reopened, the prison system as a whole remains drastically understaffed. Especially because, for whatever reasons, about two thousand correction officers never returned to their posts once the strike was over and the protestors dispersed.
Meanwhile in thirteen of these facilities, so I've been told, soldiers from the State's National Guard remain in those places to provide much needed manpower, and some added security as well. Obviously, an understaffed prison is a dangerous place to be in.
In fact, today marks the sixtieth day of what began as a “lockdown” where, at the outset, all of New York's incarcerated individuals who are classified as "maximum security," such as myself, were confined to our assigned cells. And those who have medium or minimum security classifications were to remain in their rooms or dormitories until further notice.
And although the actual lockdown is over, and a majority of New York's prisoners are now able to move about, things are still not back to the way they were before the walkout. It took weeks before educational and vocational programs started back up. And weeks before religious services were allowed again, and the recreation yards were reopened. It was the same for visiting privileges too, causing lots of grief and anguish for the inmates and our families in the interim.
As of now, weekday visiting privileges have yet to be restored statewide. So if a friend or family member were to show up at the visitors entrance of any of New York's prison's, they would be told to leave. No exceptions! But on weekends, an incarcerated individual can have visitors. However, it can only be for a Saturday or a Sunday, not both days.
In addition, the Department of Corrections "Family Reunion Program" has been discontinued until further notice. While here at Shawangunk all our college classes have been cancelled until further notice, as well.
All this began on February 17th when prison guards went on strike. Many of us fear that more changes and restrictions will be instituted. I hope not.
D.B.
Meanwhile in thirteen of these facilities, so I've been told, soldiers from the State's National Guard remain in those places to provide much needed manpower, and some added security as well. Obviously, an understaffed prison is a dangerous place to be in.
In fact, today marks the sixtieth day of what began as a “lockdown” where, at the outset, all of New York's incarcerated individuals who are classified as "maximum security," such as myself, were confined to our assigned cells. And those who have medium or minimum security classifications were to remain in their rooms or dormitories until further notice.
And although the actual lockdown is over, and a majority of New York's prisoners are now able to move about, things are still not back to the way they were before the walkout. It took weeks before educational and vocational programs started back up. And weeks before religious services were allowed again, and the recreation yards were reopened. It was the same for visiting privileges too, causing lots of grief and anguish for the inmates and our families in the interim.
As of now, weekday visiting privileges have yet to be restored statewide. So if a friend or family member were to show up at the visitors entrance of any of New York's prison's, they would be told to leave. No exceptions! But on weekends, an incarcerated individual can have visitors. However, it can only be for a Saturday or a Sunday, not both days.
In addition, the Department of Corrections "Family Reunion Program" has been discontinued until further notice. While here at Shawangunk all our college classes have been cancelled until further notice, as well.
All this began on February 17th when prison guards went on strike. Many of us fear that more changes and restrictions will be instituted. I hope not.
D.B.