Prison activist Anthony Dixon suggested that the striking officers are responsible for Grant's death and called for the temporary closure of affected prisons.

The Legal Aid Society reported that inmates have been unable to access critical medical treatments since the strike began, exacerbating health concerns.

Mediation talks between state officials and the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association commenced on February 24, focusing on demands for better pay and safety measures.

The illegal strike involves guards at over 40 state prisons, with union officials stating it violates labor rules and could lead to disciplinary actions.

Jonathon Grant, a 61-year-old inmate, died at Auburn Correctional Facility in New York amid an ongoing illegal strike by correction officers.

Statistics indicate a significant rise in violence within New York state prisons, with assaults on staff nearly doubling from 2019 to 2024.

The strike, which began on February 18, 2025, has lasted for seven days, raising concerns about inmate safety and care.

Grant was serving a 34-to-40-year sentence for rape and burglary, having been incarcerated since 2011.

In response to the strike, Governor Kathy Hochul deployed over 4,500 National Guard troops to maintain order in the prisons, leading to lockdowns that affected inmate services.

Despite attempts to revive him with CPR and Narcan, Grant was pronounced dead on February 22, 2025, with the cause of death under investigation.

The situation in New York prisons has become increasingly volatile, highlighted by recent murder charges against six guards related to the death of inmate Robert Brooks.

Protests by over 100 corrections officers occurred near Coxsackie Correctional Facility, emphasizing deteriorating working conditions and safety concerns.