“Solitary confinement hasn’t existed in our jails in decades. No inmate is locked in a cell for 24 hours straight. We use punitive segregation exclusively for those inmates who have assaulted Correction Officers and non-violent inmates. Last year alone, there were nearly 700 assaults on our Correction Officers, that included 26 sexual assaults. There were 158 slashing incidents and 123 stabbing incidents. These numbers would be much higher if we had no deterrents and were completely prevented from separating violent inmates from the general population. That’s why the previous two mayors and even the Federal Monitor and Judge Swain all agree that maintaining punitive segregation is critical to maintaining safety and security in our jails. I urge Mayor Mamdani to tour the jails with me, speak to our officers and see first hand the dangers my members face every day before allowing the emergency order to expire. The lives of everyone in our facilities is at stake.”
Benny Boscio
COBA President