Correctional Association Launches New Public Dashboard to Track Prison Condition in NYS, Promoting Transparency & Accountability
Contact: Sumeet Sharma, ssharma@correctionalassociation.org, 646-591-9483
Easily Searchable Tool Provides Data on Incarcerated Individuals, Unusual Incidents & Deaths in Prison
BROOKLYN, NY – As part of its mission to oversee state prisons and promote transparency, the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) today announced the launch of a new data dashboard that will make it easier for the public to access vital prison data. CANY’s tool will provide critical information on New York's State correctional facilities including data on individuals under custody, deaths in custody, and unusual incidents.
The launch of the dashboard is part of a wider effort to make public essential prison data, covering; health and safety records; incidents of violence and use of force; the availability of educational and vocational programs; staffing levels; grievances, and more. This resource will be regularly updated, with additional datasets populating the dashboard throughout the year.
“This public dashboard is a significant step toward better understanding what is happening inside New York State's prisons. It will be an invaluable and powerful tool for those seeking to improve policy,” said Martha King, Senior Program Officer at the Charles H. Revson Foundation and Board Officer of CANY’s Board of Directors. “By sharing this information in a truly accessible way, the Correctional Association of New York is supporting the transparency and evidence-based decision-making that's required to reduce harm in NYS prisons."
"Data is vital for effective management and reform. CANY's data transparency initiative aligns with an ongoing commitment to improving prison conditions nationwide and efforts to reduce reliance on incarceration in New York. It's a crucial step forward in our pursuit of a more humane and effective correctional system," said Michael Jacobson, Director of CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance.
“Data transparency, including the accurate and timely reporting of data is fundamental for a safer, accountable prison system. We hope that by making this data public, policymakers, advocates, and the family and friends of the people living in and working in prisons can gain a better understanding of the circumstances of incarceration in New York’s prisons.
This project embodies our mission, shedding light on prison conditions in order to catalyze responses to detrimental practices and advocate for reduced reliance on incarceration in our state,” said Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director of the Correctional Association of New York.
CANY’s data project aligns with Governor Kathy Hochul’s pledge to foster greater transparency and accountability statewide and with the American Bar Association’s recommended oversight standards for correctional institutions.
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.
