New York’s correctional system remains under intense strain more than a year after a workforce demonstration exposed deep problems with staffing, safety, and policy—problems that continue to cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
State budget figures show that approximately $680 million has already been spent stabilizing prisons since the 2025 crisis, with more than $1 billion in total state funds allocated through emergency extenders and the enacted budget.
At the height of the disruption, nearly 7,000 National Guard members were deployed inside correctional facilities. Today, about 2,700 guardsmen remain, costing the state roughly $50 million per month, with no clearly defined exit plan.
Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano said the continued reliance on emergency spending and military support reflects a failure to confront the policies that led to the crisis.
“This is what happens when ideology replaces common sense,” DeStefano said. “We’ve spent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars, deployed the National Guard, and yet the underlying problems inside our prisons have not been fixed.”
Correction officers and corrections-industry analysts have repeatedly warned that violence and disorder inside facilities increased following the implementation of the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act. Officers say the law restricts their ability to immediately separate violent inmates in already understaffed facilities.
Although some HALT provisions were temporarily suspended during last year’s emergency under a memorandum of agreement, the Legislature has taken no permanent action to amend or repeal the law. Republican lawmakers have instead pushed proposals to repeal HALT, expand contraband screening, and strengthen penalties for assaults against correction officers.
Democratic leaders have acknowledged the strain on the system, even as they defend the broader goals of reform. “It’s really unsustainable,” said state Sen. Julia Salazar, who chairs the Senate’s corrections committee. “I’m grateful that National Guard members are supplementing the insufficient staff-levels in facilities, but it’s definitely not an ideal solution.”
DeStefano said the lack of a long-term plan leaves both officers and taxpayers exposed. “Emergency measures are not a solution,” he said. “New Yorkers deserve safety, accountability, and a corrections system that actually works.”