Yesterday’s Info Session on the SCOC
Yesterday, we held an Info Session on the State Commission of Correction (SCOC), the independent watchdog agency with oversight powers of all jails, prisons, and juvenile detention facilities in New York State. Thank you everyone who was able to join. We had over 130 people register for this call.
During the info session, we explained the history and authority of the State Commission of Correction (SCOC), discussed the 2025 reforms to the SCOC (including the new commissioners, one of whom must be formerly incarcerated), reviewed the new online complaint portal, and shared action steps to getting reform-oriented commissioners appointed to the SCOC.
Here are the resources and action steps we shared on the call:
- New Online Action Tool Targetting Gov. Hochul: take this online action tool to contact Gov. Hochul and demand that she appoint reform-oriented commissioners to the SCOC.
- Upcoming SCOC Complaint Form Info Session: Join us next Thursday, April 30th at 12pm for an info session on submitting the SCOC Online Complaint Form. RSVP here to attend.
- New SCOC Fact Sheet: this fact sheet outlines all the reforms to the SCOC in 2025 (as we discussed in this presentation.
- Monthly SCOC Meeting: Join us on Wednesday, April 29th at 11am for the April Monthly Meeting of the SCOC in Albany. Please reach out to Ricky at ricky@katalcenter.org if you would like to join us.
If you have any questions about the State Commission on Corrections or what to get involved in our implementation work, please reach out to Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org.
Recap of the Mental Health & Rikers Info Session at the Silberman School of Social Work
Our MSW interns Amira and Katherine presenting at the info session, 4.22.26
On Wednesday, our Silberman Schhool of Social interns Amira Wittenberg and Katherine Ferrante lead an info session with the Silberman Social Justice Committee to discuss our November 2025 report, Rikers Island and Mental Health: Pathways Toward Community-Based Diversion and Jail Population Reduction, and ways for the Hunter students, faculty, and the larger community to join the fight to #ShutRikers.
During the info session, we discussed recent data about the mental health needs of people held Rikers, the stories of people directly impacted by the horrors of Rikers Island, and the 15 comprehensive recommendations from the report focused on creating a more effective and humane path forward to reduce the jail population and shut down Rikers. We ended the session asking all the participants to take this online action tool demanding Mayor Mamdani shut down Rikers.
Check out photos and videos from the session on our BlueSky.
If you would like to get involved in our campaign to shut Rikers, please contact Melanie at melanie@katalcenter.org.
We Will Not Be Silent: May Day Rally & March
Next Friday, May 1st, at 4:00pm, we’re joining hundreds of organizations, unions & community members from across the city to commemorate International Workers Day! International Workers’ Day, or May Day, is the day people all across the world celebrate the bravery of workers throughout history who have sacrificed for safety, dignity and justice on the job.
This years May Day Rally & March focuses on the fight against the Trump administration and the billionaires who are threatening and targeting our immigrant and working to dismantle our rights and freedoms.
RSVP here to join us next Frday, May 1st at 4pm for the May Day Rally & March
If you have any questions about the May Day Rally & March, please contact Melanie at melanie@katalcenter.org.
Tabling at College of Staten Island
Yesterday, our policy associate, Ricky Forde, tabled at an organization fair at the College of Staten Island (his alma matter). Over the last few years, we’ve hosted several student interns from the CSI and we’ve developed a great partnership with the university. At yesterday’s session, Ricky spoke with students about our shut Rikers campaigns and ways students can join the fight.
May Statewide Criminal Justice Reform
Our next NY Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call is Thursday, May 14th, at noon! On Wednesday, Gov.Hochul passed the sixth emergency budget extender to keep the state government open through April 27th. The Senate and Assembly are still in deep negotiations with the Governor on various policy issues around the FY26-27 Executive Budget. On our statewide call, we’ll spend extra time discussing the state budget and the latest updates from Albany. As usual, we’ll also hear from organizers and advocates leading criminal justice reform campaigns across the state.
Register to join us Thursday, May 14th, from noon to 1 p.m.
If you have any questions about the statewide call or would like to be a presenter, please contact Yonah at Yonah@katalcenter.org
Inspiring Resistance This Week
– Hundreds of protesters gather to protest outside of an ICE warehouse purchase in Sandy, Utah. Read more about it here.
For more examples of resistance, check out Choose Democracy’s Resist List!
Quotes of the Week
“In order for us as poor and oppressed people to become part of a society that is meaningful, the system under which we now exist has to be radically changed. This means that we are going to have to learn to think in radical terms. I use the term radical in its original meaning–getting down to and understanding the root cause. It means facing a system that does not lend itself to your needs and devising means by which you change that system.” – Ella Baker
“Caminante, no hay puentes, se hace puentes al andar.” (Traveler, there are no bridges, one makes them as one walks.) – Gloria E. Anzaldúa“It’s a good thing to have all the props pulled out from under us occasionally. It gives us some sense of what is rock under our feet, and what is sand.” – Madeline L’Engle
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