Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly blasted Gov. Kathy Hochul for releasing scores of inmates early because of a staffing crisis at state prisons.
“Governor Hochul’s decision to release hundreds or even thousands of prisoners before they have served their full prison terms is a reckless and shortsighted response to a crisis of her own making,” said Donnelly, a Republican running for re-election this fall.
“This move undermines the safety of law-abiding New Yorkers and sends the wrong message to those who have been convicted of crimes.”
State Corrections Commissioner Daniel Martuscello recently directed prison leaders to identify inmates who were convicted of minor crimes and already set for release within 15 to 110 days to be considered to be sprung early from the slammer.
It comes after the state fired more than 2,000 correction officers who went on strike over poor working conditions.
The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said it identified 766 inmates who were within 110 days of their approved release dates — and had sprung 103 of them to residential treatment programs as of Tuesday.
Another 142 convicted are still being reviewed for potential release, a DOCCS rep said.
The remaining 521 individuals have been deemed ineligible for various reasons — including pending warrants or lack of an approved non-shelter residence, the spokesperson said.
Donnelly and state Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Garden City) are drafting legislation to stop the state from authorizing the early release of prisoners to address staffing or budget challenges.
The illegal strike by correction officers was costing the state more than $100 million a month in large part by Hochul activating the New York Army National Guard to deal with the staffing shortage, her budget director Blake Washington recently told reporters.
Hochul accused Donnelly and Ra of grandstanding and condoning the illegal strike, which ended last month after seven weeks of strife.
“New York’s correctional system is facing a staffing crisis because thousands of correction officers broke the law, walked off the job and refused to return to work — putting their fellow COs, civilian staff and incarcerated individuals at risk,” said Hochul spokesperson Jess D’Amelia.
“Instead of being honest with New Yorkers, these politicians are defending lawbreakers and twisting the truth. So here are the facts: DOCCS will not grant early release to anyone convicted of sex crimes, terrorism or violent felonies, and this policy will only apply to individuals whose sentences will be completed in the next 110 days.”
The Hochul rep said her administration is “tuning out the noise” and will continue working to improve working conditions for corrections officers and to implement the reforms initiated after the “brutal murder” of inmate Robert Brooks.
“No individuals convicted of violent felony or sex offenses have or will be released as part of these early releases,” added DOCCS spokesman Thomas Mailey.
“Commissioner Martuscello directed that a list of incarcerated individuals who are scheduled to be released in the next few months be reviewed for their transition into Residential Treatment. Incarcerated individuals are not eligible for the program if they have been convicted of sex crimes, violent felonies or more serious felonies like murder, terrorism, and arson. Participating individuals must also have an approved residence, which is not a shelter or DSS placement,” the rep added.
Donnelly, a Republican, is seeking re-election as Nassau’s chief prosecutor this fall, facing off against Democrat Nicole Aloise.
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