What changes New York lawmakers could consider to the HALT Act

And State Ed's Betty A. Rosa is suing former Budget Director Robert Mujica. Here's why.

Good afternoon — It’s Friday and Talk Like a Pirate Day.

In today’s CapCon:

• State lawmakers have been sent 10 recommendations for changes to the HALT Act, New York’s solitary confinement law, after this year’s prison strike.

• Criminal justice groups blasted the recommendations and said the Legislature should reject them.

• State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa is suing former State Budget Director Robert Mujica. Here’s why.

• The federal prosecutor investigating alleged mortgage fraud by New York Attorney General Letitia James is being fired for failing to deliver.

Names in today’s CapCon: Daniel F. Martuscello, Andrew Cuomo, Luis Sepulveda, Jerome Wright, Bernadette Rabuy, Betty A. Rosa, Robert Mujica, Donald J. Trump, Linda B. Rosenthal

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During the prison strike in February (Will Waldron/Times Union)

🖋️ DOCCS committee recommends HALT amendments after prison strike

When thousands of correction officers at New York’s prisons agreed to end their weeks-long strike earlier this year, the state made a promise to consider one of their key complaints.

That’s the HALT Act, a state law that sets restrictions on when and how long officers can house someone in solitary confinement. It also requires out-of-cell time each day and alternatives for those with severe mental illness.

Officers have argued that violent incidents in prisons have escalated since the law’s implementation. They’ve argued that its provisions prevent them from maintaining a safe environment and addressing certain forms of misconduct.

They’ve sought a full repeal but settled at the end of the strike to have a state committee review its provisions and make recommendations for how it could change.

That committee was formed by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and included representatives from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Office of Employee Relations and unions that represent staff at prisons.

It began meeting after the strike ended in March to review the law and identify how it could change to satisfy the complaints from officers. Those recommendations were released Friday.

“We believe we have achieved this goal in a way that will ultimately lead to better outcomes and safer facilities,” said DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III. “It is my hope that the legislature considers these changes as an important evolution of the HALT Act that reflects all we have learned since its inception in March 2022.”

DOCCS Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello in May (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)

The Legislature would have to approve a new bill with the recommendations for them to take effect. Leadership in both chambers has said they would oppose major changes to the law.

We don’t know if they’ll ultimately consider the 10 changes recommended by the committee Friday. Lawmakers aren’t due back in Albany until January.

The recommendations themselves would clarify parts of the law, allow more options for how officers can use solitary confinement and unlock incentives intended to prevent misconduct.

They’re split into five categories. But it’s also important to note that the committee didn’t release bill text, just the recommendations broadly.

The first four recommendations would clarify and expand when someone can be placed in solitary confinement.