Green Haven Correctional Facility remains under lockdown following 24-hour period of violence
State officials said they expect it to take a while to search and secure the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville.
A state prison in Dutchess County remains on lockdown Thursday after two corrections officers were injured during a 24-hour period of violence.
State officials said they expect it to take a while to search and secure the Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville.
Violence broke out among inmates on Monday. A state correction officers union spokesperson says an inmate broke a corrections officer's nose during this time.
The acting state correction commissioner then ordered Green Haven to lock down while they searched for weapons.
"I think it's almost like a death spiral," said Assembly Member AJ Beephan. He said the state has stripped correction officers of their ability to discipline and separate inmates to reduce violence.
Beephan said an example of that -- that he's trying to reverse -- is a 2022 law that bans long-term solitary confinement.
"There's no way for wardens to separate inmates who are currently acting up, like they had in the past," he said.
Jim Miller, a spokesperson for the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, agrees.
"Once that discipline has been watered down, there's nothing basically from stopping the inmates from committing these acts." he said.
State correction officials said despite injuries to correction officers, the violence was mainly among inmates.
They also said the lockdown may last for several more days.
State officials said the corrections officer who suffered a broken nose is now resting and in good spirits.
