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The Hochul administration is being accused of protecting up crimes in prisons by downgrading assaults dedicated by inmates towards guards as “harassment” or “disruptive habits” as a substitute of assaults.
A bombshell Dec. 31, 2025 memo issued by the state Corrections Division’s deputy commissioner Michael D’Amore lays out examples of what constitutes an assault and what’s thought of the decrease classification of harassment or disruptive habits.
“The Division has redefined the Uncommon Incident (UI) class, and created harassment as a reportable UI,” D’Amore mentioned within the memo despatched to all jail superintendents and watch commanders.
For instance, an inmate who rips off the shirt pocket of a guard delivering meals must be charged with disruptive habits or harassment — not assault, D’Amore mentioned.
The inmate would solely be charged with assault if he smashes the guard’s face into the safety fence whereas ripping his shirt, D’Amore mentioned, citing a hypothetical case.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman slammed the memo as delicate on felons and accused Hochul’s staff of protecting up crimes inmates commit towards officers.
“Let’s be clear: when an inmate grabs an officer, throws objects at an officer, or drags an officer right into a cell, that’s assault,” Blakeman mentioned.
“You don’t make prisons safer by taking part in phrase video games. You make them safer by backing correction officers and holding violent offenders accountable. When Albany downplays violence towards officers, it emboldens unhealthy habits and tells the women and men defending our prisons that their security comes second to political optics. That’s unacceptable.”
Corrections officers view the change as retribution from Gov. Kathy Hochul after a devastating unlawful strike final yr led her to fireplace 2,000 officers, leaving the already precarious system much more dangerously understaffed.
“They’re going to make use of that towards all of us. They’re doing every part they’ll to harass the staff and punish us and make life simpler for the inmates,” one corrections officer informed The Put up.
Hochul’s workplace and DOCCS had no instant remark.
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