For Immediate Release: 

Contact: Nick Encalada-Malinowski nick@vocal-ny.org

VOCAL-NY Condemns Suspension of HALT Act

The following statement is attributable to Roger Clark, VOCAL-NY Community Leader. 

“After an illegal strike, seemingly to deflect attention from Robert Brooks’ tragic death, prison guards and Governor Hochul are colluding to suspend the HALT Act- a move that would be blatantly illegal without legislative approval. Incarcerated individuals are already confined to their cells 24/7 during this strike, deprived of food, showers, visits and some have died as well. Now they want to reinstate the horrors of full-time solitary confinement? This is unconscionable. As a survivor of Solitary Confinement in New York State prisons, I know that it’s torture. 

Governor Hochul, show compassion, be fair, and do not remove this critical safeguard that protects the basic human rights of those behind bars. Moreover, DOCCS has already failed to fully implement HALT with numerous violations reported since its enactment; rewarding this non-compliance only embolden bad behavior,” said Roger Clark, VOCAL-NY Community Leader. 

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