New Report: Staff Abuses Surfaced in Correctional Association’s Monitoring Visits to Central NY Prison
CANY Also Releases Findings on Prison Conditions Statewide From 2021-2022
Key Highlights: Abuse by Staff, Inadequate Conditions & Health Care Deficiencies Reported
BROOKLYN, NY — Correctional Association of New York (CANY), designated by law to provide independent oversight of prisons in New York State, released a detailed report today after conducting a comprehensive monitoring visit to the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Central New York. The two-day visit was carried out as part of CANY's oversight mandate, pursuant to Correctional Law §146(3). CANY recorded reports of routine - and sometimes racialized - abuse by staff, including physical assaults, and observations of a retaliatory environment, even as the state works to increase program opportunities at the facility. There were also reports of health care and mental health treatment deficiencies.
In addition, CANY also released a separate report, A New Look at CANY: Oversight, Transparency, Discourse, and Accountability, that compiles key findings from post-visit briefings from June 2021 through December 2022, based on visual observations of correctional facilities, interviews with incarcerated people and staff, and analysis of administrative data.
"Our monitoring at Mid-State Correctional Facility highlighted troubling issues we have documented in many of the state’s prisons,” said Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director at the Correctional Association of New York. “CANY recommends a series of proactive measures, including a thorough investigation into staff abuses and retaliatory actions. Additionally, we are calling on the state to designate the Department of Health as the oversight entity for all health care services rendered in DOCCS facilities."
Below are details from CANY’s Post-Visit Briefing report from the visit to the Mid-State Correctional Facility in Marcy, followed by topline data points from A New Look at CANY, a review from monitoring reports since 2021.
Prison-Visit Briefing: Mid-State Correctional Facility
On October 13 and 14, 2022, CANY conducted a monitoring visit to Mid-State Correctional Facility, a medium-security men’s prison in Marcy, NY. CANY representatives held meetings with prison staff and interviews with incarcerated individuals. CANY observers carried out a total of 122 interviews with incarcerated individuals in general population housing areas, the Special Housing Unit (SHU), the Step-Down to General Population program (SDP), the Sex Offender Treatment program (SOP), the Intermediate Care Program (ICP), and protective custody and involuntary protective custody housing units (PC/IPC). CANY developed findings and recommendations from its analysis of interviews conducted, observations, and conversations with both incarcerated individuals and staff during its monitoring of Mid-State.
The monitoring visit revealed several areas of concern that require attention and improvement. A detailed account of each of the findings can be found in the full report below.
Key points include:
Basic Provision of Services:
Incarcerated individuals reported inconsistent availability and affordability of items in the commissary.
Visiting policies were burdensome for individuals in the SDP and their families, including denials of contact visits and the shackling of individuals during visits.
Incarcerated individuals reported unappetizing, unhealthy, and insufficient food provisions at Mid-State.
Healthcare and Mental Health Services:
Medical care across the facility, including general population units, SHU, SDP, and SOP, was negatively impacted by long wait times.
Dental services were reportedly limited to extractions, with a lack of preventative or restorative care, resulting in a lack of confidence among individuals.
Mixed experiences were reported with the Office of Mental Health (OMH) services, with issues related to medication and coping with daily life.
Staff Behavior:
Numerous allegations of staff abuse and retaliation were reported across the general population units, Special Housing Unit, and Step Down Program.
Discipline:
Individuals in the general population units expressed little confidence in the fairness of the disciplinary process at Mid-State.
Some individuals were held for more than 15 days in the SHU, raising concerns about prolonged confinement.
Issues were raised regarding the placement of individuals in the SDP, indicating a potential deviation from the requirements of the HALT law.
Grievances:
Incarcerated individuals reported delays and inattentiveness to grievances, with fears of retaliation for filing complaints.
Material Conditions and Environmental Issues:
Safety concerns were raised by some individuals regarding the drinking water supply.
A New Look at CANY
Physical, Verbal , & Sexual Abuse
45% of respondents across five prisons (Bedford Hills, Bare Hill, Upstate, Elmira, and Orleans) reported having witnessed or been personally subject to verbal, physical, or sexual abuse by staff.
36% of respondents across four prisons (Bedford Hills, Bare Hill, Upstate, and Elmira) reported having witnessed or experienced racialized abuse by staff, including but not limited to slurs, stereotyping, and discrimination.
43% of respondents between Albion and Orleans reported having seen or experienced racialized abuse by staff
Medical Services
55% of respondents across three prisons (Elmira, Albion, and Orleans) reported having experienced or witnessed an emergency medical or mental health situation at their respective prisons. In many instances, incarcerated people described delayed, harsh, or inadequate treatment for those suffering the crisis.
58% of respondents across three prisons (Bare Hill, Upstate, and Elmira) reported that the level of medical care received was adequate. At Great Meadow, 32% of respondents reported considering the quality of general healthcare to be adequate.
Mental Health Services & Needs
52% of respondents across four prisons (Great Meadow, Clinton, Bedford Hills, and Elmira) reported receiving services from OMH.
23% of respondents between Great Meadow and Clinton reported having attempted to hurt themselves in prison.
13% of respondents reported having attempted to hurt themselves at Bedford Hills specifically.
Temperature
28% of respondents across three prisons (Elmira, Albion, and Orleans) reported that, during the summer, it was adequately cool inside.
Other incarcerated people across DOCCS facilities reported experiencing summer temperatures without proper ventilation, heat left turned on, no air conditioning, and insufficient access to ice supply.
Grievance
17% of respondents across seven prisons (Clinton, Bedford Hills, Bare Hill, Upstate, Elmira, Albion, and Orleans) reported feeling that the grievance process was fair. Incarcerated people reported filing grievances for a variety of issues, including but not limited to medical, mental health, discipline, staff abuse, property, material conditions, basic services, and programs.
Commissary
30% of respondents across five prisons (Bare Hill, Upstate, Elmira, Albion, and Orleans) reported that the commissary was adequately stocked with items on a regular basis.
Programs
64% of respondents across seven prisons (Great Meadow, Clinton, Bare Hill, Upstate, Elmira, Albion, and Orleans) reported having access to the academic and vocational programs that they needed. Sing Sing stands out as the prison with the most favorable programming offerings in the eyes of incarcerated people.
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.
