Correctional Association of New York Releases Analysis of Food Sources and Availability in NYS Prisons
Report Reviews Access to Food in Prison Mess Halls, Commissaries, and Package Programs
November 24, 2025
Contact: media@correctionalassociation.org
Brooklyn, NY – The Correctional Association of New York (CANY) issued a detailed report examining food access and quality within New York State Correctional Facilities. The new report, An Analysis of Food Sources and Availability in New York’s Correctional Facilities, builds on CANY’s 2024 report Food and Nutrition in New York State Correctional Facilities with additional findings from interviews with incarcerated individuals, analysis of administrative records, and recommendations for improvement.
Key Findings:
State-Provided Meals: Nutritional Imbalances on the DOCCS Mess Hall Menu:
An analysis of the prison system menu found that incarcerated people are being offered insufficient fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains, and excessive amounts of refined grains and sodium.
If consumed in their entirety, meals provide excessive calories for most incarcerated women and some incarcerated men when consulting the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).
Commissary: Low Stock and High Prices
66% of respondents reported that the commissary is inadequately stocked.
Commissary prices rose 45% between March 2020 and December 2024, double the rate of inflation duringthe same period. Wages paid to incarcerated individuals have decreased when adjusted for inflation.
Problems with Package System:
47% of respondents surveyed cited delays in receiving packages, leading to spoiled food.
Inconsistent application of package processing rules leads to a perception that rules are arbitrarily enforced.
Recommendations:
In the report, CANY makes recommendations to address many of these findings.
Mess Hall:
CANY has identified a need for improved transparency on nutritional values and calories so that incarcerated people have a better understanding of the content of the food they are served.
Commissary:
CANY recommends moving to a single vendor for commissary items to streamline the process and cut down on inequitable pricing and rising costs, while still holding existing vendors accountable for improving supply chain management.
Packages:
CANY issues operational recommendations aimed at streamlining the package delivery process, so the delivery of perishable items is prioritized and “Package Transactions” data reporting is standardized.
“Again and again, incarcerated people highlight food quality and availability as key factors in their experience of incarceration. Our analysis highlights the nuanced ways that these experiences impact health, cost, and perceptions of fairness within prisons,” said Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director at the Correctional Association of New York. “Our new report offers a number of practical recommendations for addressing the concerns of the incarcerated population, in addition to several suggestions for longer-term solutions which would distinguish New York State as a leader in the delivery of healthy, equitable food in prisons.”
To find the full report:
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.
