New Report: Structural Racism Throughout NY’s Parole System
Parole supervision fuels mass incarceration everywhere, but particularly in New York as the state sends more people back to prison for non-criminal, technical parole violations than any state except Illinois. Nearly six times as many people are reincarcerated in New York State prisons for technical violations – such as missing an appointment, being out past curfew, or associating with other people with a criminal record – as were reincarcerated for a new criminal conviction. Incarceration for technical violations costs New York State and localities a total of over $600 million annually.
Thursday, the Columbia Justice Lab released Racial Inequities in New York Parole Supervision, an alarming new report which examines data at the city and state level for people on parole. The report provides disturbing new evidence of the urgent need for reform. It comes at a time when New York lawmakers are considering overhauling the state’s parole policies through legislation including our Less Is More: Community Supervision Revocation Reform Act, and the New York State Bar Association has issued a report critical of New York’s parole practices directly aligned with the #LessIsMoreNY legislation.
Read Racial Inequities in New York Parole Supervision.
Some news and resources about this report and #LessIsMoreNY to check out:
- Read the Justice Lab Press Release that includes quotes from #LessIsMoreNY bill sponsors Sen. Brian Benjamin and Assemblyman Walter Mosley; City Council Speaker Corey Johnson; Former Chief Judge of NYS Jonathan Lippman; NYC DAs Cy Vance, Eric Gonzalez, and Darcel Clark; Vanita Gupta and more.
- Read ‘Structural Racism’ Cripples NY Parole System published in Crime Report
- Read NY’s Parole System Rife With ‘Structural Racism’ published in the Gothamist by JB Nicholas
- Read the New York Daily News op-ed about the report and #LessIsMoreNY authored by NYC DAs Eric Gonzalez, Cyrus Vance Jr., and Darcel Clark
- Check out this thread by Katal’s gabriel sayegh about the report and it’s connection to #LessIsMoreNY
- Contact your elected officials TODAY and tell them to pass Less Is More this year! Email and tweet your legislators.
To learn about our effort to pass #LessIsMoreNY and how you can get involved, contact Yan Snead at ysnead@katalcenter.org or at 518.360.1534.
Calling for the Release of People from Jails and Prisons Across CT & NY Amid COVID-19 Concerns
We know that jails and prisons are incredibly susceptible to the COVID-19 pandemic; thousands of people are caged together in small spaces with limited options for quarantine, and a limited selection of sanitary and hygiene products. Many incarcerated people suffer disproportionately from chronic health conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus, especially as they are already receiving substandard medical care.
In response to concerns around COVID-19 being introduced into jails and prisons across Connecticut and New York, and further, being spread back into communities via correctional staff, Katal issued statements demanding people inside be released immediately to prevent the spread and reduce the impact of COVID-19.
Read the Katal CT COVID-19 Statement
Read the Katal NYS COVID-19 Statement
This week, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. The NBA suspended its season.Companies and organizations across the country are resorting to working remotely and practicing social distancing. This is a difficult period with rapidly changing dynamics; we need to come together, support each other, and make sure that the most vulnerable in our communities — including those who are detained in jails and prisons — are accounted and cared for.
Some useful wellness resources about COVID-19:
- Check out the CDC website for the full guidance, as well as for details about the status of COVID-19 nationally.
- Read Politico’s intelligence briefing on how coronavirus is impacting politics and public policy, the economy and global health.
Event Updates: Cancellations in CT & NY
Due to concerns around the spread of COVID-19, the following upcoming events have been postponed or otherwise cancelled:
In New York,
- New York City – March 17th, 2020 – Bail Info Session in Brownsville in partnership with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams– postponed to a later day.
- New York City – March 19th, 2020 – Symposium on Parole and #LessIsMoreNY at Fortune Society — cancelled.
- Albany – Lobby Day for #LessIsMoreNY — cancelled (likely to move virtual).
In Connecticut,
- Hartford – March 26th, 2020 – 2nd Annual Social Justice Advocacy Day — postponed.
We’ll update you when new dates are set for some of these events. In the meantime, take proper precautions to be safe, take care of each other, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you want to connect!
Katal works to strengthen the people, policies, institutions, and movements that advance health, equity, and justice for everyone.
Visit our website at www.katalcenter.org to learn more about our work and how you can get involved. Be sure to follow us across social media @katalcenter and stay in touch!
Contact us at info@katalcenter.org or at 646.875.8822.