ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing a proposal in state budget negotiations that would allow 18-year-olds to begin working in New York’s correctional system — part of a broader effort to address a correction officer staffing shortage that has left the state down 4,000 officers.
Hochul said she envisions young recruits starting in supervised, non-armed roles to get them “in the pipeline” for careers with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), where the current minimum hiring age is 21, The Buffalo News reports.
“Bringing people in younger, letting them know the opportunities to work in government service, I think it’s just a smart idea,” Hochul said during a press event following her annual Easter Egg Roll at the Executive Mansion.
“I will tell you this, it is hard to find people who want to go into law enforcement at any level,” Hochul continued. “Our small towns are struggling finding police officers. NYPD is struggling to find police officers. Everybody is having trouble, so I said, ‘Let’s get people excited about it.’ This could be their first job, but it’s a good career.”
The staffing gap — exacerbated by the recent wildcat 22-day corrections officer strike that led to the termination of 2,000 employees — has prompted state officials to consider a range of solutions, including lowering the age requirement and closing up to five correctional facilities.
The move has drawn mixed reactions. NYSCOPBA spokesperson James Miller said the union supports the plan, provided new hires undergo thorough background and psychological evaluations.
“It’s more on a case-by-case basis,” Miller said, stressing the importance of ensuring young recruits can handle the correctional environment.
Veronica Horowitz, a sociologist at the University at Buffalo, told The Buffalo News that correctional work is highly stressful and beginning a career in corrections at a young age could have long-term impacts. She pointed out that the human brain continues to develop through the mid-20s.
As DOCCS faces increased scrutiny, the department is ramping up recruitment efforts. Commissioner Daniel Martuscello said in a message to staff that testing interest has surged, and three officer training graduations this year have already brought 177 new officers into the ranks.
