Criminal cases across New York City were slowed Monday because correction officers were not delivering defendants to several courthouses as part of an apparent work slowdown, NBC 4 New York has learned.

 

The chief spokesman for the New York State Court system said prisoners were not being delivered, and a spokeswoman for Legal Aid said defendants were not being loaded onto correction buses all morning. The apparent slowdown was causing delays throughout the court system, and could end up causing suspects to spend more time in jail cells while awaiting transport.

 

Sources said the alleged slowdown appeared to be linked to the correction union’s anger that two of its correction officers are facing trial in the Bronx for excessive force charges. A spokesman for the Bronx District Attorney’s office said officials are looking into the matter. 

 

Spokesmen for the Department of Correction and the Correction Officers Benevolent Association did not immediately comment.

 

Office of Court Administration spokesman David Bookstaver said officials "were told by the Department of Correction that we should be expecting prisoners for court appearances later this afternoon.”

 

“This is a citywide problem,” said Pat Bath, a Legal Aid spokeswoman. “Criminal cases for trial are being delayed as are planned hearings."

 

Bath added that the delays would also affect prisoners who were scheduled to be taken to treatment programs Monday. Those transports would be delayed until Tuesday.

 

Some officials are questioning whether the union has violated the state’s Taylor Law, which prohibits certain work stoppages by essential municipal workers.