The Hochul administration is being accused of covering up crimes in prisons by downgrading attacks committed by inmates against guards as “harassment” or “disruptive behavior” instead of assaults.
A bombshell Dec. 31, 2025 memo issued by the state Corrections Department’s deputy commissioner Michael D’Amore lays out examples of what constitutes an assault and what’s considered the lower classification of harassment or disruptive behavior.
“The Department has redefined the Unusual Incident (UI) category, and created harassment as a reportable UI,” D’Amore said in the memo sent to all prison superintendents and watch commanders.
For example, an inmate who rips off the shirt pocket of a guard delivering food should be charged with disruptive behavior or harassment — not assault, D’Amore said.
The inmate would only be charged with assault if he smashes the guard’s face into the security fence while ripping his shirt, D’Amore said, citing a hypothetical case.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman slammed the memo as soft on felons and accused Hochul’s team of covering up crimes inmates commit against officers.
“Let’s be clear: when an inmate grabs an officer, throws objects at an officer, or drags an officer into a cell, that is assault,” Blakeman said.
“You don’t make prisons safer by playing word games. You make them safer by backing correction officers and holding violent offenders accountable. When Albany downplays violence against officers, it emboldens bad behavior and tells the men and women protecting our prisons that their safety comes second to political optics. That is unacceptable.”
Corrections officers view the change as retribution from Gov. Kathy Hochul after a devastating illegal strike last year led her to fire 2,000 officers, leaving the already precarious system even more dangerously understaffed.
“They’re going to use that against all of us. They’re doing everything they can to harass the employees and punish us and make life easier for the inmates,” one corrections officer told The Post.
Hochul’s office and DOCCS had no immediate comment.
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