By C1 Staff
NEW YORK — Newly appointed Commissioner Joseph Ponte is describing the DOC as “in deep trouble,” according to the New York Daily News.
He cited a series of alarming stats on spiking violence in city jails, including the doubling of slashings and stabbings, and a rise in use of force by staff.
“The Department’s past performance has been unacceptable,” Ponte said.
Much of the trouble is attributed to a growing mentally ill inmate population. Staff is said to be poorly equipped to deal with them.
Ponte hopes to put more mentally ill inmates in treatment programs with jails, and not just those who have already lashed out violently or broken rules.
New COs will get an additional eight hours of training on mental health.
Council Finance Chairwoman Julissa Ferreras said that didn’t go far enough, as those already on the job wouldn’t get the training.
“It’s unfair, and it’s a great pressure that we’re putting on a workforce that wasn’t trained,” she said.
Ponte said staffers are getting new information on prisoner’s mental health issues and the circumstances of each inmate’s arrest. Panic alarms and security monitors have also been installed in the jails.
“Our top priority is to bring down violence.”