A tense standoff between corrections officers and inmates unfolded at a New York state prison during an ongoing labor dispute.
According to the New York Post, chaos erupted at Riverview Correctional Facility in Ogdensburg when overnight guards were forced to retreat from their posts after inmates began destroying property and breaking glass in the facility's dorms.
The incident, which began around midnight, prompted prison staff to withdraw first to a visitors' area and later to an administrative section as the situation deteriorated. Between 15 and 20 overnight guards were involved in the strategic retreat, while the affected dorms housed up to 500 inmates.
Emergency response teams restore prison control
State officials deployed two emergency response teams to regain control of the facility. The Albany Correctional Emergency Response Team collaborated with Riverview's own CERT team to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation.
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision spokesperson addressed the incident. They stated:
Last night, an incident occurred at Riverview Correctional Facility in which staff vacated their posts leaving the dorms unsupervised. In response, the Albany Correctional Emergency Response Team, along with the Riverview CERT Team have intervened to restore order and ensure the safety of all individuals inside.
By 8 a.m., authorities had successfully regained control of the prison. Two inmates sustained injuries during the uprising, though no staff members were reported hurt.
Labor dispute intensifies across state facilities
The Riverview incident occurs amid a broader crisis affecting New York's prison system. Corrections officers at 36 facilities across the state have been conducting informal strikes to protest working conditions, mandatory overtime, and potential layoffs.
Governor Kathy Hochul took decisive action by signing an executive order to deploy 3,500 National Guard members to unmanned prisons. She expressed her stance on the situation:
These disruptive and unsanctioned work stoppages by some correction officers must end as they are jeopardizing the safety of their colleagues, the prison population, and causing undue fear for the residents in the surrounding communities.
State Supreme Court Justice Donna M. Siwek ordered the guards to return to work, citing state law violations. The prison workers' union, representing approximately 17,000 members, maintains it did not sanction the strikes but seeks to collaborate with the governor to address the labor dispute.
Immediate measures address the mounting crisis
Commissioner Daniel Martuscello has implemented new measures to resolve the situation. Guards returning to work before midnight Thursday would avoid disciplinary action and receive two-and-a-half times their regular pay rate during the emergency period.
The state corrections department has suspended all prison visits indefinitely. This decision follows a similar uprising at Collins Correctional Facility in Erie County, where officials are investigating whether a corrections sergeant inappropriately ordered a lockdown.
Hochul has committed to implementing safety reforms, including enhanced security camera systems, strengthening the Office of Special Investigations, and increasing compensation for corrections officers.
Current developments shape prison system future
The Riverview Correctional Facility incident represents the latest development in New York's ongoing prison crisis. The emergency evacuation of guards and subsequent intervention by response teams occurred against the backdrop of widespread labor strikes affecting 42 state prisons. As state officials work to implement reforms and address staffing concerns, the immediate focus remains on maintaining security and resolving the labor dispute that has led to these unprecedented challenges in New York's correctional system.
