Albany, NY - New York will reduce the minimum age for prison guards from 21 to 18, trying to raise the ranks of correctional staff in the shortage, exacerbating more than 2,000 guards after a week-long strike weakened the state's prison system.

State lawmakers approved the measure on Wednesday, with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul expected to sign it into law.

The bill sets some rules for young guards, including their inability to obtain or use guns or prisoners outside of prison. During their first and a half years of work, they must also be supervised when performing “connection roles” with prisoners.

While protesting against poor working conditions in February, the Guard lowered the age of correction officers after leaving work. Hawkel was forced to deploy the state National Guard to jail to maintain operations during the strike.

The governor eventually fired more than 2,000 guards, who refused to last three weeks after the state and the guard union reached a deal to end the strike. Hawkel bans future fired guards.

After that, the state corrections commissioner directed the department to release some prisoners early due to the lack of guards. However, early discharges were limited to convicted offenses and had been released in the near future. Prisoners convicted of sexual offences, violent felony or serious felony such as murder, terrorism and arson will not qualify for early release, the agency said.

The strike came after a high-profile fatal assault on Robert Brooks in a New York prison in upstate New York, recorded on guards’ body cameras and resulted in charges against more than a dozen people.

According to the indictment, another incarcerated man, Messiah Nantwi, died on March 1 after being injured in a series of assaults by the guards. Ten guards were charged with Nantwi's death, including two guards accused of murder.

Some other states, including Florida, Maine and New Jersey, allow 18-year-olds to become corrections officers.