Correctional Association of New York Marks 180 Years of Independent Oversight with Release of Annual Report
New York, NY – The Correctional Association of New York (CANY) today released its annual report, OneEighty: Interpreting 180 Years of Prison Oversight, marking almost two centuries of independent oversight of New York’s prisons. The report reflects on the organization's long history and its ongoing mission to promote transparency, accountability, and human dignity within the state's correctional system.
The report highlights the organization’s accomplishments since 1844 while calling attention to CANY's recent work, including:
Visual dashboards of DOCCS data: This dashboard makes complex data about the prison system more accessible to the public including data on the prison population, staffing levels, the number of unusual incidents, and on the deaths of incarcerated individuals in prisons.
An analysis of distance from home: This analysis found that New Yorkers are incarcerated an average of 140 miles from their homes, highlighting the challenges faced by families and communities.
An interactive prison map: This map provides information on staffing and bed capacity at every prison in the state.
A study and analysis of the prison grievance program: This study examines the effectiveness of the grievance program in addressing the concerns of incarcerated individuals.
A Policy Agenda: This agenda outlines CANY's comprehensive policy recommendations to address critical issues identified through its monitoring and research, advocating for reforms that promote safety, justice, and human dignity within New York State prisons.
“We endeavor to make sure CANY’s work is trusted, credible, and driven by data and the recognition that prisons can be made safely much smaller, and that safety and justice require that we fundamentally transform the way they operate,” said Martha King, Chair of the CANY Board of Directors.
"As we reflect on 180 years, we are optimistic that fundamental challenges in the state’s prisons
can be addressed through effective oversight and vital partnerships,” said Jennifer Scaife, CANY Executive Director.
About CANY
CANY, under §146, of New York’s Correction Law, is charged with visiting and examining the state's correctional facilities to identify and report on prison conditions, the treatment of incarcerated individuals, and the administration of policy promulgated by the executive and legislature. Founded in 1844 by concerned citizens of the state and deputized by the state to provide monitoring and oversight of the state’s prisons in 1846, CANY is one of the first organizations in the country prescribed to administer civilian oversight of prisons.