CANY Releases Recommendations to Improve Safety, Institutional Culture, and Conditions in New York State Prisons
CONTACT: media@correctionalassociation.org
Thursday, January 9, 2025
BROOKLYN, NY – The Correctional Association of New York (CANY) today released CANY’s Recommendations to Improve Safety, Institutional Culture, and Living & Working Conditions within DOCCS Facilities. These recommendations, based on extensive on-the-ground monitoring, interviews with incarcerated individuals and staff, and data analysis, provide a critical assessment of the challenges facing New York's prisons and offer concrete solutions to address persistent challenges and opportunities for improvement within New York State prisons. They were formally submitted to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) on October 9, 2024—two months prior to the fatal assault of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility.
"The tragic death of Robert Brooks underscores the urgent need for the state to address deeply rooted issues plaguing New York's prisons," said Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director of the Correctional Association of New York (CANY). "We applaud the steps that Governor Hochul and DOCCS Commissioner Martuscello have already taken to adopt several of CANY’s recommendations. CANY stands ready to partner with DOCCS to provide effective, independent oversight with critical support from the $2 million pledged as part of the Governor’s corrective actions. We urge the state to take up the remaining recommendations to ensure that DOCCS is able to address the root causes of the violence that led to the killing of Mr. Brooks."
Key recommendations from the report, informed by CANY's extensive expertise, include:
Enhancing safety measures: Expediting the installation of stationary cameras and the deployment of body-worn cameras systemwide to increase transparency and accountability.
Improving the Incarcerated Grievance Program: Empowering grievance facilitators to investigate and resolve complaints and ensuring transparency within the grievance process.
Improving living and working conditions: Partner with external organizations focused on culture change inside prisons.
CANY's recommendations serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, advocates, and the public in the ongoing effort to reform New York's correctional system.
About the Correctional Association of New York:
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.
