Exclusive: Hochul to Name Executive for Embattled W. n. Y. Prison Based on the NY Times article “Exclusive: Hochul to Name Executive for Embattled W. n. Y. Prison”:
category: Government
tags: governor, kathy hochul, wendy lee, marcy prison, rape, sexual assault, responsive action, state supreme court justice, hudson manor, improved safety protocols, inmates, correction officers, oveha-bar-el-sheikh, superintendent, kim claff
In a move to address the mounting sexual assault allegations and ongoing staffing issues at the maximum-security prison in Marcy, New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that she will be appointing Wendy Lee as the executive manager of the facility. Lee, former president of MGH Institute for Health Professions at Harvard University, will oversee a “Responsive Action Plan” aimed at improving safety protocols and addressing the sexual assault complaints in the infamous Hudson Manor complex, where 11 inmates reported being assaulted in less than five months. Although the Democratic governor has faced continued criticism for her handling of the emergency, citing a lack of staffing at the prison, no sexual assaults have been reported by correction officers. However, the State Supreme Court justice’s suggestion that one inmate allegedly assaulted by Oveha-Bar-El-Sheikh raped him voluntarily has been heavily criticized and is currently under review by State Attorney General Letitia James. While Lee aims to assess the investigation system at the prison and address legal concerns related to compensation for the inmates’ injuries, new leadership and fresh eyes may be the answer to this longstanding problem.
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