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:
- 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.
- REPORT SHEDS TROUBLING LIGHT ON ATTICA STATE PRISON (The Daily News) The CA reported “a noticeable high level of intimidation and fear throughout the facility both during our visit."
- ATTICA CO CHARGED WITH ASSAULTING INMATE "EAGER TO CLEAR HIS NAME" (WGRZ-TV) Four Attica State Prison Corrections Officers have been indicted for allegedly beating up an inmate, and then conspiring to cover it up by allegedly filing a false report that the inmate was in possession of a razor during an altercation at the prison in August.
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COXSACKIE INMATE REPORTEDLY SETS FIRE TO CELL (The Daily Mail) A CA report released earlier this year found that 46 percent of respondents said confrontations between inmates and staff happen “very frequently.”
- MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AT PRISONS FACES SCRUTINY (Poughkeepsie Journal) While conditions for mentally-ill prisoners have improved, in part due to a new law that took effect this year, there are many problems that remain, advocates for prisoners' rights told an Assembly committee on Tuesday.
- NY'S "LOCK-EM-UP" APPROACH TO JUVENILE JUSTICE NOT WORKING (Public News Service) Putting kids behind bars doesn't keep them from committing crimes later, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
News and Events
A new plan for youth justice?
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 broken 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]
Join the CA for a Black History Month performance of Lyrics From Lockdown
One man. One mic. 40 characters. 2 unbelievable stories of wrongful imprisonment. Told through hip hop, theater, spoken word, blues, comedy, calypso, & classical music. Written and performed by Bryonn Bain & directed by Mei Ann Teo. [read more]
Daily Mail claims prisoners at Coxsackie "say the system works against them”
In numerous letters sent to The Daily Mail, prisoners at Coxsackie, a maximum security prison for men located in Greene County, New York, have alleged staff mistreatment and a flawed grievance system. Utilizing our unique legislative authority to monitor prisons, the CA visited Coxsackie in May of 2010, and had serious concerns about the high level of tension between staff and prisoners, resulting in many prisoners feeling unsafe in the facility and expressing fears of retaliation and a lack of trust that many prison staff would treat them fairly.
- "Inmates say the system works against them", Daily Mail
- Download the Correctional Association's 2010 report [287 KB] and 2004 report [190 KB] on Coxsackie Correctional Facility.
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)]
From the desk of Soffiyah Elijah
After forty years, Attica Correctional Facility has failed to evolve into a safe place for prisoners. Improvements found by our Prison Visiting Project, while encouraging, were grossly overshadowed by serious concerns for the safety and well-being of the people imprisoned there. [read more]
Strength of a Woman
Strength of a Woman is a 20-minute documentary created by the Violence Against Women Committee of the Coalition For Women Prisoners and filmmaker Allison Caviness about the experiences, resilience, and strength of formerly incarcerated domestic violence survivors and the devastating impact that the criminal justice system can have on women’s lives.
Women in Prison Project launches Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act campaign
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.