New CANY Analysis Shows Distance Between Incarcerated People and Their Communities in NYS
April 23, 2024
ALBANY— A new analysis by the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) reveals significant distances between incarcerated people and the communities where they were sentenced. The analysis, conducted using data from the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), finds that, on average, incarcerated people in New York are held 140 miles away from their commitment counties.
This report comes as the state budget authorized the closure of up to five prisons statewide. As a result of its unique legislative mandate to monitor and report on prison conditions, CANY offered testimony to the state legislature in support of the Governor's prison closure recommendation, which was recently approved by the Legislature as part of the state budget.
“We know there are several factors the state will consider in choosing which prisons to shutter, including staffing levels and capacity. Distance from population centers and home communities should be a key consideration,” said Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director of the Correctional Association of New York. “This analysis, along with the map we previously released, will help policymakers and members of the public review these criteria objectively.”
Key Findings
The average distance between incarcerated people and their commitment counties is 140 miles.
Distances vary greatly across facilities and counties of commitment. Some individuals are held over 300 miles away from their families.
People convicted in New York City tend to be farther from their commitment counties compared to people convicted in other parts of the state.
More women are within 80 miles of their commitment counties compared to men.
People under 30 are slightly farther from their commitment counties compared to those ages 30 and older.
For maximum-security facilities, people at Upstate, Clinton, Attica, and Great Meadow were furthest from their commitment counties.
For medium-security facilities, Altona, Bare Hill, Franklin, and Riverview were furthest from their commitment counties.
The report underscores the importance of considering an incarcerated person's community ties when assigning them to a facility. Programs like the Proximity to Minor Children Law, which prioritizes placing individuals close to their children, represent a positive step.
The full analysis is available here: www.correctionalassociation.org/distance-analysis
About CANY
The Correctional Association of New York (CANY) is an independent, non-profit organization with a legal mandate to monitor and report on conditions in New York State prisons. CANY was founded in 1844 and deputized by the state to provide monitoring and oversight of the state’s prisons in 1846, making it one of the first organizations in the country to administer civilian oversight of prisons. CANY conducts monitoring visits, publishes reports, and advocates for policy changes to improve conditions in New York State prisons.
