Explaining the New York State Prison Strike and the HALT Act

Genevieve Bombard ’27
March 6, 2025

A statewide strike of approximately 15,000 corrections officers at nearly all of the 42 prisons operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has prompted conversations about major legal and policy issues impacting the safety and wellbeing of incarcerated individuals and employees inside the state's prisons, including the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act. This explainer examines the legal and policy implications of the HALT Act and its role in the discourse surrounding the statewide prison strike.

Alternatives to Police as First Responders: Crisis Response Programs

By Matt DeLaus
November 16, 2020

For 911 calls about someone in crisis, who should respond? Many cities have decided it should not solely be police. Programs replacing police with social workers, mental health counselors, and medical staff have been in operation for at least a year in some states.

These programs are focused on providing more appropriate services and reducing government spending.