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Representatives from the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association finalized the deal after two days of negotiations. The talks began after an agreement brokered between DOCCS Commissioner Daniel Martuscello and striking officers fell apart when the union refused to sign a memorandum of understanding.Ìý

What's in the agreement? 

HALT

The latest deal incorporates language from the two prior agreements to address the officers' concerns with the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement Act, known as HALT. The 2022 law restricts the use of segregated confinement in jails and prisons.Ìý

Martuscello will temporarily suspend the programming portions of HALT for 90 days. After the first 30 days, he will evaluate whether lifting the suspension would "create an unreasonable risk to the safety and security of the incarcerated individuals and staff." 

DOCCS will also implement a "circuit breaker" that could result in a facility-wide suspension of HALT provisions if there isn't sufficient staffing levels on "high impact days" — Friday, Saturday and Sunday.Ìý

The department and NYSCOPBA agreed to form a committee that will recommend changes to HALT. The panel will deliver its recommendations to the state Legislature with 60 days.Ìý

The committee's work will focus on "areas that address the safety of staff and incarcerated individuals to include, but not be limited to, keeplock, assaults on staff and assaults on incarcerated individuals." DOCCS and NYSCOPBA will have members on the committee. Other unions representing correction facility workers will be offered seats on the panel.Ìý

Overtime

Among the issues raised during the strike was the officers being forced to work 24-hour overtime shifts. Mandated overtime has been used due to staffing shortages in prisons.Ìý

DOCCS agreed that it will schedule correction officers and sergeants for 12-hour shifts until prisons return to pre-strike staffing levels. Once those thresholds are reached, the employees will resume the shifts they had before the walkout. Prison superintendents will work to honor employees' scheduled days off, according to the deal.Ìý

A correction officer or sergeant who volunteers to work overtime on Friday, Saturday or Sunday will receive an additional $100 for each shift.

For officers who return by 6:45 a.m. Sunday, they will be paid double time and a half for all overtime worked 30 days after the agreement.Ìý

Staffing

DOCCS and NYSCOPBA agreed to form a committee on plot plan efficiency. The committee, along with an independent specialist, will be tasked with analyzing staffing within the facilities and "operational ineffiencies" to provide relief to staff. The analysis will cover eight-hour and 12-hour staffing plans, among other areas.Ìý

Legal mail, screening

DOCCS will seek a vendor to screen legal mail sent to incarcerated individuals. Officers say legal mail has been used to funnel contraband, such as drugs, into correctional facilities.Ìý

There is also a commitment from DOCCS and NYSCOPBA to discuss the addition of airport-style screening devices at prisons.Ìý

Strike-related discipline

DOCCS won't discipline officers who participated in the strike if they return by 6:45 a.m. Monday. The department will also reinstate officers who resigned or were terminated during the walkout.Ìý

The state will restore health insurance for officers who had their coverage terminated while on strike. Contempt proceedings against officers who failed to comply with a temporary restraining order will end.Ìý

Approved leave

During the strike, DOCCS ordered officers who were on pre-approved leave back to work. This included employees who are injured or on parental leave.Ìý

The terms state the parties "agree to continue to resolve any outstanding issues involving members on pre-approved leave... who were ordered to prematurely return to work during the strike." 

70/30

In a Feb. 10 memo, Martuscello directed DOCCS facilities to classify 70% as full staffing. He rescinded the memo during the early days of the strike.Ìý

The latest agreement confirms the memo has been rescinded.Ìý

Salary grade

The state agreed to expedite is review of a request to raise the salary grade of a correction officer from SG-14 to SG-17 and correction sergeant from SG-17 to SG-20.Ìý

The review will be completed within two months. Martuscello previously said the process usually takes 18 months.Ìý

Referral bonuses

To boost staffing, DOCCS will offer referral bonuses to officers who recruit new officers to join their ranks.Ìý

Employees who recruit a new correction officer will receive a $1,500 referral bonus after they graduate from the academy and complete training. They will get another $1,500 after the officer completes their 52-week probationary period.Ìý

National Guard

The National Guard, which was activated in the early days of the strike, will remain at facilities when officers return from the picket line. The state will begin drawing down the National Guard as employees return to work.Ìý

According to the agreement, the National Guard soldiers will be used to "help prevent an employee from being mandated to work a 24-hour overtime shift." 

Assaults on staff

DOCCS and NYSCOPBA agreed to discuss "the definitions of assault" for tracking the number of assaults on staff. The department reported a record 1,760 assaults on staff in 2024.

DOCCS defines an assault as "any attack by an incarcerated individual," including incidents that don't involve physical injury. For example, if an incarcerated individual throws an object at an officer, it is considered an assault.Ìý