We are in the midst of a profound crisis in our nation’s correctional system.
Across the country, our nation’s prisons are dangerously understaffed and overcrowded.
Policymakers must act now to protect the health and safety of correctional staff, incarcerated people, and the public at large.
Prisons across the country are dangerously understaffed, overcrowded, and plagued by rapidly deteriorating conditions.
One Voice United (OVU) and FAMM, two leading organizations representing correctional staff (OVU) and incarcerated people and their families (FAMM), have joined together to form the Safer Prisons, Safer Communities campaign.
For too long, our constituencies have been pitted against one another while the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, friends, and loved ones has suffered. While it may be surprising to some people that we would work together to draw attention to this crisis, we know our fates are intertwined and we have a shared goal of ensuring the health and safety of everyone who works and lives in prison.
EndorseFor too long, our constituencies have been pitted against one another while the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, friends, and loved ones has suffered. While it may be surprising to some people that we would work together to draw attention to this crisis, we know our fates are intertwined and we have a shared goal of ensuring the health and safety of everyone who works and lives in prison.
SAFER PRISONS SAFER COMMUNITIES
In The News
March 4, 2026
House Members Raise Alarm about Bureau of Prisons Understaffing
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee, which oversees the Bureau of Prisons, have raised an alarm about the “pervasive shortage of critical staff—particularly of correctional officers, healthcare professionals, and mental health specialists” at the agency, saying “we are concerned that staffing issues have reached a crisis point.”
“Insufficient staffing levels have led to lockdowns, heightening tensions among inmates, increasing instances of violence, limiting access to recidivism-reducing programming, further restricting the availability of medical and mental health care, and hindering institutional response to institutional emergencies such as assaults and suicide attempts,” they wrote.
Read ArticleFebruary 25, 2026
N.Y. prison staffing remains 20% below pre-strike levels, senator says
Chemical exposures, forced overtime and debate over the HALT Act remain key concerns a year after the wildcat prison strike that led to the firing of 2,000 correction officers.
Daniel G. Stec, R – Queensbury, a state senator, said staff levels are approximately 20% below what they were before last year’s strike. “I think in December of 24 the number of COs was 14,000 and change, and December of last year was 11,000 and change, we are down about 3,000 just form the end of 24 to the end of 25,” Stec told the Telegram this week.
Read ArticleFebruary 25, 2026
How prison staffing shortages are driving away mental health staff
Correctional officers are leaving their jobs at federal prisons. And when these prisons are understaffed – psychologists and other staff are asked to act as guards. Recent reporting from The Marshall Project says it’s pushing mental health professionals out of prisons.
Read Article