Our Mission
Through monitoring, research, public education & policy recommendations, the CA strives to make the administration of justice in New York State more fair, efficient and humane.
Recent CA Press:
- BRONX POLS PROPOSE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HOUSE SOME INCARCERATED PARENTS CLOSER TO THEIR CHILDREN (Daily News) State Assemblywoman Naomi Riveraand state Sen. Gustavo Rivera recently introduced bills that would establish a pilot program for 60 parents to be incarcerated near their children.
- CLOSE TO HOME (New York Nonprofit Press) It’s big; it’s bold; and it is a long awaited effort to significantly improve services and outcomes for young people placed in New York State’s Juvenile Justice system.
- SEEKING A SOFTER JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, CLOSER TO HOME, FOR NEW YORK'S JUVENILE OFFENDERS (The New York Times) State lawmakers were hashing out the details on Monday of a proposal that they hoped would help put a softer face on juvenile justice in New York.
- CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION'S ELIJAH ON CURRENT ISSUES IN PRISONS (Capital Tonight) Governor Cuomo is looking to restructure the juvenile justice system.
- CAPITAL PROFILE: J. SOFFIYAH ELIJAH (Albany Times Union) Soffiyah Elijah was interviewed by the TImes Union at the State Capital on February 17.
- THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM (WCNY Radio) Soffiyah Elijah speaks with WCNY's Susan Arbetter.
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WHY WASN'T THIS A CRIME? TIOGA COUNTY TAXPAYERS WILL PAY THE PRICE TO SETTLE A CIVIL LAWSUIT (PressConnects) Although the beating was captured on videotape and brought to the attention of Tioga County's top law enforcement officer and its chief prosecutor, charges were never filed following the 2010 assault of a defenseless man at the Tioga County Jail.
- FOR LOW PAY AND A CHANCE, INMATES GET TO WORK (Wall Street Journal)
- GOVERNOR DECIDES - IN JUVENILE JUSTICE, CITY KIDS BELONG NEAR HOME (Center for NYC Affairs) If Governor Cuomo gets his way, New York City will cut the number of children it sends to state-run juvenile justice facilities by more than two-thirds over the next two years.
News and Events
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DV advocate and Coalition for Women Prisoners member Kim Dadou speaks with MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry
The issue of domestic violence and womens' incarceration continues to gain traction and public support. CA advocate Kim Dadou appeared on the Melissa Harris-Perry program on MSNBC in early May to discuss the issue of DV victims being denied “Stand Your Ground” protections. Part One of the segment is below. For Part Two, click here.
The Close to Home Initiative: what it means for NYC's youth
Released as part of the 2012-2013 Executive Budget, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s "Juvenile Justice Services Close to Home Initiative" represents a significant step towards restructuring New York’s youth justice system. If approved by the state legislature, the initiative could transfer jurisdiction of New York City’s children currently confined in the state's non-secure and limited-secure placement facilities to the city. [read more]
TAKE ACTION!
The May 4th edition of PBS’s New York NOW featured Kim Dadou’s story and the CA's Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act campaign. (full story is below, scroll to 15:30 for the DVSJA segment)
On the program, Senator Patrick Gallivan, a Republican from Western New York, openly expressed his support for the legislation. As a key Republican, Senator Gallivan’s endorsement would be a significant step towards the bill’s passage—but we need him to take the next step and become an official bill co-sponsor.
Watch Domestic Violence Survivors Bill on PBS. See more from New York NOW.
CA applauds DOCCS and state investigators for taking action in case of Attica officers indicted for abuse; calls for closure of notorious prison
As a prisoner at Attica, George Williams reportedly suffered from a broken collarbone, two broken legs, and other injuries so serious that he had to undergo surgeries, from which he is still recovering. [read more]
Suicides in NYS prisons reach highest rate in 28 years; CA testifies in Albany
In early December, the CA presented testimony before the Correction and Mental Health Committees of the Assembly about a dramatic increase in prisoner suicides inside of Department of Corrections and Community Supervisions (DOCCS) facilities. [read more] [download official testimony (814 KB)]
Securing justice for survivors of domestic violence
http://dvsurvivorsjusticeact.org/
The DV Survivors Justice Act will allow New York to take critical steps toward addressing the years of injustice faced by survivor-defendants whose lives have been shattered by abuse. By establishing a more compassionate sentencing structure for survivors and enhancing recognition of the impact of DV on survivor-defendants, the Act makes it less likely that survivors will be victimized by the very system that should help protect them.
To learn more about the bill, write a letter to your legislator, view our multimedia advocacy pieces, or follow our blog, please visit http://dvsurvivorsjusticeact.org/
CA among the top rated criminal justice organizations in the country
A group of 127 experts have identified the Correctional Association as one of 21 high-impact nonprofits working in criminal justice in the U.S. on a local/state level. The CA ranked third place within a group of organizations in our field. To read what experts in the field have to say about the CA, click on the Expert Reviews section on our organization profile.