named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
20-Year Retirement Plan (S7004/A7925)
Legislative campaign to establish an optional 20-year retirement plan for state correction officers to improve job retention and workforce stability.
Death Gamble Legislation
Secured legislative passage of a benefit that provides pension-equivalent death benefits to families of eligible correction officers who die in service before formal retirement, aligning their benefits with other law enforcement professions.
Fix Tier 6 Campaign
Advocacy initiative to reform New York’s Tier 6 pension system, which has reduced retirement benefits for public employees hired since 2012, with the goal of improving recruitment and retention in correctional services.
Legislative Advocacy and Lobbying
Ongoing efforts including annual lobby days, testimony, press conferences, and member outreach to influence state policy on correctional staffing, safety, and benefits.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Advocacy for Worker Health and Leave Policies 1 activity
- Advocacy for correctional officer benefits and legislative reformsConducts sustained advocacy efforts including legislative testimony, lobby days, press conferences, op-eds, and member mobilization campaigns to advance legislation affecting correctional officers, such as the "Death Gamble" law, Tier 6 pension reform, and an optional 20-year retirement plan (Bill S7004/A7925). Successfully secured the passage of the "Death Gamble" legislation as part of the 2026-2027 Executive Budget, which aligns in-service death benefits with pension reserve values.
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Legal Representation for Members 1 activity
- Direct provision of legal and material support to membersProvides representation or legal counsel to members in legal proceedings and delivers moral and material aid as needed, operating under an independent and democratic model since 1998.
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Opioid Harm Reduction Services 1 activity
- Emergency medical intervention by correctional officersAdministers life-saving emergency medical aid, including Narcan and CPR, to revive unresponsive inmates following suspected drug overdoses at facilities such as Upstate and Mohawk Correctional Facilities.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Recognition of member service through retirement ceremoniesRecognizes correctional officers for long-term service by hosting retirement plaque ceremonies.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Reporting and response to staff injuries and violent incidentsDocuments and responds to violent attacks on correctional officers, including incidents resulting in hospitalization, fractures, concussions, and assaults during cell extractions, transport, or perimeter breach attempts at facilities such as Collins, Marcy, Groveland, and Five Points Correctional Facilities.
- Security and contraband interdiction in correctional facilitiesConducts planned and targeted security operations including dormitory and cell searches across multiple correctional facilities, resulting in the seizure of inmate-manufactured weapons, synthetic narcotics (e.g., drug-saturated paper), cell phones, charging equipment, homemade alcohol, and marijuana. Operations have occurred at Mohawk, Cape Vincent, Riverview, Franklin, Mid-State, and other facilities, often in response to assaults or intelligence.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$17.09M
Contributions & grants$15.02M88%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$604K4%
Other revenue$1.46M
expenses
Total expenses$13.73M
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$2.47M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$32.97M
Cash$11.88M
Investments$0
Liabilities$10.33M
Net assets$22.64M
Liquid reserves10.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +5.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 10
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVID LUTHER | VICE PRESIDENT SOUTHERN REGION | 40 | $38K |
| CHRIS SUMMERS | EXEC VP/PRESIDENT | 40 | $29K |
| MATTHEW KEOUGH | EXEC VP/NORTHERN SS | 40 | $27K |
| JOHN HARMON | VICE PRESIDENT LAW ENFORCEMENT | 40 | $23K |
| KENNETH GOLD | VICE PRESIDENT WESTERN REGION | 40 | $22K |
| JOE HORACEK | VICE PRESIDENT MID HUDSON REGION | 40 | $19K |
| JOHN ROBERTS | VICE PRESIDENT NORTHERN REGION | 40 | $19K |
| BRIAN HLUSKA | VICE PRESIDENT CENTRAL REGION | 40 | $19K |
| STEPHEN COX | RECORDING SECRETARY | 40 | $19K |
| PAMELA WELCH | TREASURER | 40 | $18K |
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- Bedford Hills Correctional Facility Partner — Location where honored member Deborah Floyd served for 38 years
- Cape Vincent Correctional Facility Government — Facility where staff conducted investigations and contraband seizures.
- Clinton Correctional Facility Government — Site where multiple incidents involving officer injuries occurred, indicating operational and safety concerns.
- Governor Hochul Government — Executive leader who signed the “Death Gamble” legislation into law following NYSCOPBA’s advocacy.
- Governor Kathy Hochul Government — Worked with Governor Hochul’s administration to secure passage of the "Death Gamble" legislation as part of the state budget.
- Mohawk Correctional Facility Government — Site of a planned security search conducted by correction officers, resulting in the recovery of contraband.
- Mohawk Correctional Facility Government — Site where correction officers conducted a contraband search following an inmate assault.
- New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Government — State agency employing correction officers represented by NYSCOPBA.
- Riverview Medium Security Correctional Facility Government — Site where officers affiliated with the organization conducted a contraband investigation.
- Upstate Correctional Facility Partner — Staff from the facility, including correctional officers and nurses, collaborated to respond to a medical emergency and revive an inmate.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Independent Democratic Union Modelmethodology: independent_democratic_modelBy structuring the union as an independent and democratic organization, the association enhances member advocacy and decision-making, because autonomy ensures that the interests of correctional officers and police are represented without external influence and through collective input.
- Testimony-Based Advocacy to Influence Policymethodology: testimony-based advocacyBy using firsthand testimonies from officers and families in advocacy efforts, the organization produces greater public awareness and policy change, because personal narratives make the human impact of prison conditions more visible and compelling to policymakers and the public.
- Workforce Retention Through Benefit Equitymethodology: workforce_retention_through_benefit_equityBy advocating for policy changes that eliminate financial disincentives to continued service, the organization supports retention of experienced correctional officers, because equitable benefit structures protect member livelihoods and institutional stability.
- Workplace Safety Advocacy Through Incident Documentationmethodology: workplace-safety-advocacyBy documenting incidents of violence and safety risks in correctional facilities, the organization strengthens its advocacy for improved working conditions, because systematic evidence of danger supports policy reform and public awareness campaigns.