Correctional Association Joins Allies in Opposition to Lowering the New York City Board of Correction’s Minimum Standards

The New York City Board of Correction, the official oversight agency of the City jail system, has proposed amendments to its Minimum Standards for New York City correctional facilities that are opposed by virtually all organizations concerned about conditions inside the City’s jails. These groups have formed an alliance, the Coalition to Raise the Minimum Standards at New York City Jails, which the Correctional Association has joined and which is actively advocating changes in the proposed guidelines. The Coalition’s main concerns relate to process and substance, namely that the new guidelines were drafted mainly in secret with only the Department of Correction participating in their preparation and that the proposed amendments detract from rather than improve conditions of confinement.

For more information or to become involved in the growing opposition movement, visit the Coalition’s website at http://www.kunstler.org/BOC/index.html.

Statements before the Board of Correction on April 17, 2007 by Mishi Faruqee, Director of the CA’s Juvenile Justice Project and John M. Brickman, Chair of the CA’s Board of Directors

Independent Oversight of NYC Jails, New York Law Journal by: Madeline deLone, David Lenefsky, John Horan, and CA Board members Michael B. Mushlin, Clay Hiles and John Brickman

Testimony before the June 6, 2007 New York City Council Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services’ public hearing on the Board of Correction’s proposed amendments to the minimum standards by Michael B. Mushlin, James D. Hopkins Professor of Law at Pace Law School and CA board member. John Brickman and DeAvery Irons from the CA’s Juvenile Justice Project also presented testimony at this hearing

Proposal for New Jail Rules Draws Fire From Inmate Advocates, New York Times

The above link includes a video about the June 6, 2007 New York City Council Hearing and a clip of Professor Mushlin’s testimony.