Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) recently joined his colleagues in the Assembly to oppose Gov. Hochul’s proposed plan to close up to five New York state prisons within the next year. On January 31, members of the Assembly Republican Conference held a press conference to discuss the dangers this initiative would present for correctional facilities, their staff and inmate populations. Correction officers across the state have been speaking out in recent weeks about the poor working conditions due to understaffing and low pay. Over the last year, New York’s prison population has grown by roughly 1,400, making these issues all the more apparent. Hawley has multiple prisons within his district including Albion and Orleans Correctional Facility and nearby Attica & Wyoming Correctional Facility. Hawley is frustrated the governor is moving forward with this proposal and is calling on his colleagues in the Legislature to push back against this policy.