Upcoming Legislative Discussion Shines Light on Violence in State Prisons

During an upcoming legislative discussion this week, policymakers and advocates for criminal justice hope to spotlight the ongoing issues of violence within state penitentiaries. The gathering is set to become the premier public platform for state senators and Assembly members to scrutinize the issues within the state’s correctional system, particularly following the tragic events involving Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi earlier this year. Tragically, both men, who were African American prisoners residing in adjacent northern penitentiaries, succumbed after violent encounters with prison officials. Roughly 20 members of the prison department, including staff and guards, are facing accusations of murder and additional crimes tied to these incidents.

The gathering is seen as a crucial chance for a comprehensive examination of the operating methods of the state’s correctional system. Advocates for criminal justice reform have been expressing their anticipation for this hearing, underscoring that recent occurrences clearly exhibit a persistent vicious cycle of violent and abusive behaviors pervading New York’s prison system. In a regrettable episode this past winter, seven inmates lost their lives amidst a three-week prison protest. Furthermore, the state had to dismiss nearly 2,000 corrections officers in March after they abandoned their duties.

Ongoing state budget talks have consequently postponed the hearing. State Senator Julia Salazar, a Democratic Party member from Brooklyn, requested this hearing back in January. Prompted by Brooks’ untimely demise, she and her colleagues introduced a series of reform proposals. The Senator and her cohorts proposed numerous criminal justice amendments be included in the budget as a response to the protests and the in-prison fatalities.

One such measure, supported by the Democrats, includes mandating on-duty officers to equip body cameras while engaging with the imprisoned populace. Other suggestions include increasing financial support for independent review panels. However, Senator Salazar voiced disappointment regarding the state’s failure to incorporate substantial changes in the budget. With an air of urgency, she pointed out the necessity of addressing this issue head-on, emphasizing the crucial role the Legislature and governor play in addressing the issue.

Melanie Bishop, a Center for Community Alternatives member and mother of a prisoner in the Finger Lakes region facility, articulated her hope that the pending hearing would underline the urgency for substantial accountability concerning neglect and violence within the penitentiary system. She expressed her hope that the hearing would reinforce the urgency for robust oversight and transparency within these institutions.

Her son came perilously close to losing his life due to the lack of accessibility to antibiotics for a simple, treatable jaw inflammation while under custody. Bishop is one of numerous mothers who collectively took a stand in Albany to advocate for the Earned Time Act and the Second Look Act. The mothers pushed for urgent execution of these pieces of legislation on Tuesday.

The Earned Time Act would create broader possibilities for inmates to become viable candidates for early release by enhancing the currently existing earned time programs. Advocates of this legislation, along with liberal lawmakers, propose that this change could motivate inmates to actively participate in a variety of programs. These could include education, volunteering, anger management, and career development initiatives.

Such active participation is believed to prepare inmates more effectively for life outside of prison, thereby contributing positively to their reintegration process. It would also contribute to a safer environment within the penitentiary by encouraging inmates to engage with these positive initiatives while serving their sentences.

The Second Look Act, co-sponsored by Senator Salazar, proposes a different kind of reform. Should this piece of legislation be enacted, judges would have the authority to review and possibly reduce sentences deemed overly harsh. More specifically, it allows judges to take into account whether the individual no longer poses a threat to societal safety.

Rowan D. Wilson, the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, has pledged his support for this proposed legislation. He underscores the importance of this act in facilitating the possibility for revising potentially excessive sentences, considering the long-term public safety aspect.

Underscoring the importance of progressive reform, Bishop calls for a fundamental shift in the perception and purpose of the correctional facility system. She advocates for a departure from the idea of simply ‘warehousing’ prisoners. Instead, the ultimate goal should be their successful reintegration back into society.