In Jamestown, NY, Senator George Borrello addressed the increasing number of incidents involving prison staff falling ill due to exposure to substances from inmates suspected of drug overdoses. This issue has become particularly concerning at Lakeview Correctional Facility.
Senator Borrello criticized the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) and Governor Kathy Hochul's administration for their handling of contraband and dangerous drugs entering state correctional facilities. He stated, “For too long, DOCCS and the Hochul administration have ignored the escalating crisis of contraband and dangerous drugs infiltrating our state’s correctional facilities."
The senator expressed alarm over recent cases where staff required Narcan after exposure to unidentified substances. "These brave men and women are tasked with maintaining order and ensuring safety within our prisons, yet they are the ones being sent to the hospital after unknowingly coming into contact with lethal substances," he noted.
Borrello urged immediate action, advocating for body scanners for all visitors entering prisons—a measure authorized in the 2023 state budget but not yet standard practice. He also called for a suspension of contact visits until improved drug detection methods are implemented. “It is time for real action,” he declared.
The senator emphasized that if Governor Hochul is committed to protecting public servants, measures must be taken swiftly to ensure their safety in correctional facilities. “These dedicated men and women deserve better, and I will continue to fight for the protections they need,” he concluded.
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