2025

MEDIA COVERAGE

Featured
New York prison conditions still see issues 6 months since correction officer strike

Spectrum News 1

Lawsuit alleges inmates with mental illnesses being kept in solitary conditions

Times Union

CNY corrections officer sentenced to 3 years in prison for assaulting inmate

Syracuse.com

Prison reform advocates push for passage of oversight bills

Spectrum News

CANY says prison closures can help reverse suicide trends, no State decision yet

CBS 6 Albany

With prison system in crisis, NBC obtains new footage of violence against NY prisoner

NBC News

Suicides in state prisons doubled last year, report finds

Queens Daily Eagle

Suicides doubled in New York's prisons in 2024, reaching highest in last decade

Capitol Confidential

Correctional Association of New York Director Sumeet Sharma on mental health statistic dashboard

CBS6 Albany

Suicides in NY Prisons More Than Doubled Last Year, New Data Shows

The City

Summers Are Brutal in New York’s Prisons. This Year Is Worse Than Ever.

New York Focus

Hochul administration sidelines prison watchdog

Capitol Pressroom

No One Escapes: Inside the Crisis of Violence and Silence in New York Prisons

NY City News Service

The 2015 Dannemora prison escape revealed security cracks. What's changed?

NPR

Editorial: Take action on prison reform

Times Union

Legislature promotes accountability in New York’s prisons

The Capitol Pressroom

State Legislature passes prison reforms, heads to Hochul’s desk

Queens Daily Eagle

State Legislative Leaders Pass Last-Minute Prison Oversight Package

New York Focus

Prison oversight package approved after two beating deaths spur change

Times Union

Dems agree to pass N.Y. prison reforms in session's waning hours

Spectrum News

New report reveals healthcare and staffing concerns at Shawangunk prison

Fingerlakes1

Access to healthcare, officer and medical staffing shortages among top concerns at Shawangunk Correctional Facility

Mid Hudson News

The bills to watch in the final week of session

City & State New York

North Country communities shrink as NY prison system is scaled back

Times Union

Key NY legislative caucus endorses criminal justice bills in light of prison deaths

WXII News

Fighting for greater oversight of New York prisons following two fatal beatings

City & State New York

New York hasn't touched this literal cost of living issue in 36 years. And the Commission of Correction expansion bill is moving in the Legislature.

Capitol Confidential

Bill to expand New York's prison oversight body passes in state Senate

WXXI News

As Dust Begins to Settle on Prison Chaos, Reformers Hold Somber Hearing

New York Focus

New York’s prisons dominated the news this year. Did the state budget address them properly?

New York Amsterdam News

2024

MEDIA COVERAGE

Featured
Family of Robert Brooks Says Killing by Prison Guards Must Be 'Catalyst for Change'

in Common Dreams

Marcy prison leader out as Hochul pledges sweeping changes

in Times Union

Fatal beating of Black inmate at New York prison sparks outrage: Here’s what we know

in CNN

Hochul replaces leader of Marcy prison after guards brutally beat inmate

in syracuse.com

Editorial: How to prevent the next fatal prison assault

in Times Union

Prisoner death spurs plan for state policy reforms by New York governor

in The Guardian

Before allegedly participating in the beating of Robert Brooks, these officers were accused of involvement in prior cases

in CNN

Shocking Patterns Of Guard Abuse At Marcy Correctional Center Amid Inmate Death Probe

in Hoodline

Two years before Marcy prison death, agency reported 'rampant abuse by staff'

in Rome Sentinel

What experts see in the ‘shocking and disturbing’ video of New York man’s fatal beating in prison

in CNN

Governor Hochul implements changes after death at Marcy Correctional Facility

in WRGB CBS 6 News Albany

Hochul visits Marcy Correctional, demands answers in Brooks death

in rochesterfirst.com

Governor Hochul visits Marcy prison, orders statewide prison reforms

in Rome Sentinel

Hochul demands answers at Marcy Correctional Facility, announces sweeping reforms following death of Robert Brooks

in Fingerlakes1.com

2022 report detailed "widespread claims of abuse" at Marcy, called for investigation

in WRGB CBS 6 News Albany

Gov. Hochul replaces head of NY prison where inmate died after brutal beating by correction officers

in Gothamist

FBI, DOJ looking into inmate death at Marcy prison, some lawmakers call for closure of Mohawk Valley facilities

in Watertown Daily Times

Hochul Installs New Leader at Prison Where Inmate Was Fatally Beaten

in New York Times

Body cam footage shows NY prison guards punch, kick, grab neck of inmate who died

in syracuse.com

Abuse by guards is common at NYS prison where inmate was beaten, report, lawsuits claim

in Gothamist

Black inmate beaten to death by New York prison guards in shocking bodycam footage

in Face 2 Face Africa

Bodycam footage shows New York state correction officers beating prisoner to death

in World Socialist Website

Watchdog Report: 4 in 5 Inmates Witnessed or Experienced Abuse By Staff at Marcy Correctional Facility

in WKTV Utica NY

Video shows beating of inmate Robert Brooks at New York jail before his death

in CBS News New York

Bodycam footage shows US police beating, killing Black inmate

in Al Mayadeen

Bodycam footage shows prison guards beating handcuffed inmate before his death

in Sky News (UK)

The shocking case of New York inmate who was 'brutally' beaten to death by prison guards

in FirstPost

Footage shows NY officers beating prisoner before death

in BBC

NY prison guards caught on body cam punching, kicking, and grabbing inmate’s neck before his death

in West Albama Watchman

Marcy Correctional Facility: We still don't know why Robert Brooks was transferred within Oneida County prisons

in The Week (India)

2023

MEDIA COVERAGE

Featured
Who Watches New York’s Jail Watchdog?

in New York Focus

‘A Waste of Time’: Inside New York’s Broken Jail Accountability System

in New York Focus

2 New York Prisons Get Mixed Review from Watchdog Group

in Times Union

As Overdose Deaths Mount in New York Prisons, Treatment Program Crawls

in New York Focus

Claims of Sexual Assault at NY Prisons Flood in as Deadline Looms

in Gothamist

“Watchdog Warns of Inadequate Prison Grievance System”

in The Capitol Pressroom

“N.Y. prison watchdog report says inmates struggle to voice grievances”

in Times Union

“New Council Bill Would Shine Light on Jail Deaths”

in The City

“The Bronx Social Justice and Anti-Violence Forums | Correctional Association of New York”

in The BronxNet

“Op-Ed: NY's Correctional System Must Embrace Reforms to Solitary Confinement Policy”

in lohud.com

“Human Rights Watchdog Investigates Landlords, Teachers, and Dentists — But Not Cops or Prison Guards”

in New York Focus

“The ‘Disturbing’ Prison Conditions Facing Chanel Lewis”

in The Nation

“Issues flagged at Marcy state prisons by independent monitoring agency”

in the Daily Sentinel

“Prison task force lays out actions to address ‘unprecedented violence’, still implementing HALT Act”

in CBS 6 Albany

“State Prison System Stays Mum on Deaths Behind Bars”

in The City

“Ambitious Efforts to Reform New York’s Juvenile Justice System Fail in the Legislature”

in The Imprint

“New Prison Chief Is a Son of the System”

in New York Focus

“On the Count - The Prison And Criminal Justice Report”

on WBAI

“East Coast Wildfires Put Incarcerated People on Frontlines of Climate Crisis”

in The Appeal

“How a ‘Blue Wall’ Inside N.Y. State Prisons Protects Abusive Guards”

in the New York Times

“Prison Chief Anthony Annucci to Retire”

in New York Focus

“State expands body scanners in NY prisons, targeting visitors and employees”

in the Times Union

“The New York Law Everyone Is Watching”

in The Nation

“Auburn museum to open new exhibit on Sewards, prison”

on AuburnPub.com

“Dangerous summer heat puts people in NY prison at risk, report says. What are its findings?”

on Lohud.com

“New York’s Imprisoned Women Brave Risks to Sue Sexual Abusers Under New Law”

in The Appeal

“Inflation Is Putting Food Out of Reach in New York Prisons”

in New York Focus

“Commentary: Why is New York letting prisons violate the HALT law?”

in the Times Union

“Groups pursue class-action lawsuit to end 'illegal' solitary confinement”

in the Times Union

“Lawsuit seeks compliance from state prisons with HALT Act”

on WIVB

2022

Featured
“Black, Hispanic people more often disciplined in NY prisons, Inspector General says”

on Lohud.com

“'None of us were heard': Adult Survivors Act opens window for formerly incarcerated to sue”

on Lohud.com

“Solitary by Another Name: How State Prisons Are Using ‘Therapeutic’ Units to Evade Reforms”

on New York Focus

“Former NY women’s prison detainees pursue lawsuit over sex assault and abuse by guards at closed Manhattan lockup”

in the New York Daily News

“As summers get hotter, incarcerated people swelter inside NY prisons”

in the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

“New Package Restrictions at NY State Prisons Create Financial and Emotional Hardships”

in NowThis

“Prison oversight group offers system recommendations”

on the Capital Pressroom

“'Mental Health Units' in Prisons are Solitary Confinement by Another Name, Activists Say”

in Truthout

“New York Prisons Set to Ban Most Packages from Family and Friends”

from New York Focus

“An Overhaul of Prison Healthcare is Long Overdue”

in The Nation

“The prison context itself undermines public health and vaccination efforts”

from the Prison Policy Initiative

“From Rikers to Bedford Hills (And Back)”

from Examiner+

“Two Years Into Pandemic, Basic Critiques of Prison Covid Policies Remain Unaddressed”

from New York Focus

“Hochul Proposes Bringing Back Private Prison Labor”

from New York Focus

“Vacancies and Zombie Commissioners Leave Opening for Parole Reform in New York”

from Bolt Mag

2021

Featured
“Report: Pandemic response slow and inadequate in prisons”

on the Capital Pressroom

“’People Are at a Breaking Point’ After Transfers from Rikers”

in The Nation

“Women Sent from Rikers to Maximum-Security Prison: ‘They Treat Us Like State Property’”

from New York Focus

“Criminal justice advocates applaud Southport prison closure, others worry”

from WSKG

“The Worst Prison in New York State”

in The Nation

“Rikers Crisis Renews Push for State Bill to Create ‘Correctional Ombudsman’ and Oversight Board”

in the Gotham Gazette

“Rikers Detainees Are Being Transferred From One ‘Hellhole’ to Another”

in The Nation

“Prison Agency Resisting Oversight, Says Lawmakers and Watchdogs”

from New York Focus

“50 years after Attica, lawmakers say grim anniversary is a reminder of needed reforms”

from the Legislative Gazette

“Attica: America’s infamous prison uprising is still a story about all of us”

from FingerLakes1.com

“A Warning at Rikers on the Anniversary of a Deadly Prison Uprising”

in the New York Times

“America is Still Locking People Up for Their Activism, Including Black Women”

from Essence

“But Who Oversees the Overseers?: The Status of Prison and Jail Oversight in the United States”

in the American Journal of Criminal Law

“Inside New York’s Grueling Parole Application Process”

from the New York Focus

“Locked In and Locked Out - Prison Life in a Pandemic”

from Birkbeck: University of London

“595 new COVID cases reported in Monroe County, more than 900 hospitalized”

from Democrat & Chronicle

“COVID-19 in New York prisons: 'Positivity numbers represent a system on fire’”

from Lohud.com

“Prioritizing Prisoners for Vaccines Stirs Controversy”

from PEW

2020

Featured
“Cuomo loosens reins on prison access for oversight group”

in the Times Union

“Latest Coronavirus Update”

in The Highlands Current

“Hundreds of inmates test positive as COVID-19 rips through New York prison”

in CBS News

“Coronavirus in Jails and Prison”

in The Appeal

“Virus threat cited in push for oversight of prison medical care”

in the Lockport Union-Sun Journal

“3 Big Ideas to Fuel an Equitable COVID Recovery”

from WHYY

“Measure enabling unscheduled prison monitoring caught in legislative limbo”

on The Capitol Pressroom

“Report details inconsistent procedures in NY prison during COVID-19 outbreak”

in The Daily Orange

“I Can Kill You In Here and No One Would Know It”

in Stories from Arnold Ventures

“Letter to the Editor: NYSCOPBA’s ploy to keep prisons open”

in the Albany Times Union

“Prison oversight reform in New York? (podcast)”

on Fingerlakes1.com

“Prison officers haven’t been held accountable for violence, but a New York bill could change that”

in Prism

“Prison violence demands attention, too”

in the New York Daily News

“Where Hand Sanitizer Is Contraband: Are NY Prisons Ready For Coronavirus?”

in Gothamist

Commentary: "Security Cameras Can't Keep New York Prisons Safe," op-ed by CANY Executive Director Jennifer Scaife

in the Buffalo News

2019

Featured
“Officials Called It a Heart Attack. Inmates Saw a Bloody Beating,”

in The New York Times

Commentary: “The Medieval World of Incarceration,” letter to the editor from CANY Executive Director Jennifer Scaife

in The Atlantic

“A Better Return for Older Prisoners”

in U.S. News & World Report

Commentary: “Shine a Light on Prisons,” letter to the editor from CANY Executive Director Jennifer Scaife

in The New York Times

“Cuomo’s threat to close three prisons has many up in arms,”

in the Recordonline.com

Commentary: “Demand transparency about what happens in prisons,” op-ed from CANY Executive Director Jennifer Scaife

in the Albany Times Union

2018

Featured
“The Tragedy of Mental Illness in American Prisons”

in The Atlantic

“Advocates campaign against solitary confinement in Eltingville with makeshift cell”

in The Staten Island Advance

“U.S. imprisons too many people,” guest commentary from James Connelly

in the Adirondack Daily Express

“Release prisoners from solitary: This is psychological torture any way you put it,” guest commentary from Roger Clark

in the New York Daily News

“Just Treatment: Exploring Cancer Care for Prisoners”

in Cure Today

“Empty Cribs in Prison Nursuries”

in Type-Investigations

“Cameras Actually Tamed Attica, the Brutal Prison I Used to Call Home”

in Vice

“The Prosecution of Noor Salman, Pulse Shooter’s Widow, Highlights the Criminalization of Domestic Abuse Survivors”

in The Intercept

“Make no mistake, solitary confinement is torture,” guest commentary from Erika Bryant

in the Democrat and Chronicle

“Tampons in the mail? Just the beginning of the change we need”

on CNN.com

“Prison Contraband Seizures Up, Guards Say More Can Be Done”

in U.S. News and World Report

“Cuomo’s prison package crackdown is suspended”

in the Albany Times Union

“NY book ban to make prisons "safer" draws backlash”

in the HuffPost

2017

Featured
“All They Want for Christmas is a Limit on Solitary Confinement”

in The Nation