FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 11th, 2026
Contact: Yonah Zeitz: yonah@katalcenter.org • 347-201-2769
Follow on socials @KatalCenter • #ShutRikers #CutShutInvestNY
On Saturday, May 9th, the State Commission of Correction, New York’s Jail and Prison Watchdog Agency, Was Expanded from Three to Five Commissioners
The SCOC No Longer Has A Quorum to Function, and No Commissioner is Formerly Incarcerated, As Required by Law
Advocates Call on Gov. Hochul to Immediately Appoint Reform-Oriented Commissioners Committed to the Agency’s Oversight Mandate
ALBANY, NY – Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed into law the Jail and Prison Oversight Omnibus Bill, which includes overhauling the State Commission of Correction. On Saturday, May 9th, key reforms to the State Commission of Correction took effect – expanding the number of commissioners from three to five. As of today, Gov. Hochul has not appointed any new Commissioners, which leaves the SCOC without a quorum to function. The governor has also yet to appoint a formerly incarcerated person to the commission, which is required under law.
The SCOC is mandated with the constitutional authority to ensure that correctional facilities across New York – all local jails and state prisons – are “safe, stable, and humane.” The SCOC’s wide-ranging authority includes the power to shut down any correctional facilities (including Rikers) for consistently violating the rights of incarcerated people. The SCOC has consistently failed to meet its responsibility, and incarcerated people across New York have suffered the consequences. The brutal murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi highlight the inadequacy of this oversight agency in state prisons. Local jails are no better, and the deadly conditions at Rikers underscore the gross failure of this agency.
Here are the changes that took effect on Saturday:
- The Commission is expanded from three to five members. The two new members are part-time; they hold full voting rights on the commission.
- To expand the diversity of perspectives and experiences for the commissioners, there are new requirements.
- At least one commissioner (full-time or part-time) must be a formerly incarcerated individual.
- At least one commissioner (full-time or part-time) must be a healthcare professional; an attorney with a background in indigent criminal defense, prisoner’s rights litigation or experience as a legal policy professional with experience related to the rights of incarcerated individuals; or a professional with experience in any other field deemed relevant to the promotion of an efficient, humane, and lawful correctional system.
The full list of reforms to the SCOC can be found here.
Right now, there are two sitting Commissioners: Chair Canty and Commissioner Gaynes. One of the full-time positions is currently vacant following the former Chair’s retirement at the end of last year. As of Saturday, May 9th, there are three vacancies (one full-time position and two new part-time positions), which leaves the Commission without a quorum to function. On Thursday, May 7th, the SCOC held a last-minute supplemental meeting, which lasted less than 10 minutes, in anticipation of not having a quorum for their scheduled May meeting on May 27, 2026. As it stands, the SCOC will not be able to hold its May monthly meeting or make any new decisions unless at least one new commissioner is appointed.
As jails and prisons across New York remain in crisis, it is vital that Governor Hochul swiftly appoints and the State Senate confirms reform-oriented people to this Commission.
Quotes from elected officials, community groups, and impacted community members:
State Senator Julia Salazar, said: “New York prisons have had a systemic pattern of violence and abuse for decades, with little to no oversight. The SCOC was designed to provide oversight, but has not had the capacity or diverse expertise to do so. The Prison Reform Omnibus Bill rightfully expanded and diversified the Commission to address this problem. Current vacancies must be quickly filled with reform-oriented commissioners so that the SCOC can more adequately fulfill its constitutional mandate of ensuring all local jails and state prisons are safe, stable, and humane.”
Assemblymember Emily Gallagher said: “The State Commission of Correction is the most powerful oversight body New York has to protect incarcerated people. Last year, the legislature passed the omnibus bill to expand the SCOC and ensure its commissioners have the expertise and perspective necessary to meaningfully advocate for the health and well-being of people in our prisons and jails. But new laws are only as effective as their implementation. If she is serious about respecting the law and ending the crisis in our prisons and jails, the Governor must fill the SCOC vacancies with reform-minded commissioners who are committed to the health, safety, and dignity of incarcerated people, including one who is formerly incarcerated.”
Shureen Harris, Member of the Katal Center, said: “My brother-in-law is currently incarcerated, and families like mine cannot wait any longer. Incarcerated people in New York are being denied care and exposed to horrific violence every day. The SCOC is an independent government watchdog with authority over jails and prisons across New York. Yet, for decades, commissioners with law enforcement and sheriff backgrounds have dominated the agency while conditions inside facilities have continued to deteriorate. Our families deserve real oversight, accountability, and leadership rooted in public health, civil rights, mental health, and the lived experience of directly impacted communities.
We are calling on Governor Hochul to appoint reform-oriented commissioners with experience in decarceration, disability justice, healthcare, mental health advocacy, legal services, and community-based organizing, not more individuals tied to the same systems that have failed incarcerated people for generations. New Yorkers deserve commissioners committed to transparency, dignity, safety, and ending the ongoing crisis in our jails and prisons. Governor Hochul, sign the bill now and appoint leaders who will truly protect our prison systems.”
Sharon McLennon Wier, Ph.D., MSEd., CRC, LMHC, Executive Director of CIDNY, said: “The Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York (CIDNY) advocates that Governor Hochul ensures that the SCOC fulfill its mandate to provide for the human rights for all incarcerated people living in jails and prisons in New York State. It is a human right for people with disabilities to have disability-specific accommodations, safety, and well-being while incarcerated in jails and prisons in New York State. The Governor should appoint someone with a background in fighting for the rights of people with disabilities.”
Reverend Jim Ketcham, Chaplaincy Certification Coordinator of the NYS Council of Churches, said: “The NYS Council of Churches strongly supports the changes to the State Commission of Corrections which were passed and signed last year. As people of faith, we remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 25: ‘I was in prison and you visited me’ and of Hebrews 13:3 ‘Remember those in prison as if you were together with them.’ We see all incarcerated individuals as brothers and sisters, fellow children of God. They deserve to be treated justly and humanely. This is not happening in many state and county correctional facilities, much to our shame. By expanding the powers and budget of the Commission, as well as increasing its members to include those outside law enforcement and prosecutorial backgrounds, the NYS legislature and Governor Hochul have taken the first steps to bring justice inside the walls of our correctional facilities. The first new appointments by Governor Hochul were due this past Saturday. The silence is deafening. New leadership for the SCOC is essential if we are to move beyond political posturing and cover-ups. We are watching!”
Lah Franklin, Member of the Katal Center, said: “Jails and prisons across New York are in an ongoing state of crisis that needs to end. Since I’ve been incarcerated, the conditions have only gotten worse. The brutal killings of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi in state prisons, underscored this crisis. Although we are grateful that Governor Hochul passed reform to overhaul the State Commission of Correction to ensure it meets its mandate of ensuring that correctional facilities across New York are ‘safe, stable and humane’, that was only half the battle. She must now appoint reform-oriented individuals to the commission! We need commissioners who will take action and not sit idly by as people continue to die.”
Brooklyn Heights Synagogue Social Justice Committee, said: “We wholeheartedly supported last year’s Omnibus bill, including the necessary efforts to reform the State Commission of Correction. We can’t stop now. As jails and prisons across NY remain in crisis, it is vital that Governor Hochul swiftly appoint, and that the State Senate confirm, reform-oriented people to the Commission who will fulfill the Commission’s constitutionally mandated authority to ensure that NYS’s correctional facilities are “safe, stable and humane.’”
King Downing, director of the Healing Justice Program NY/NJ of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), said: “The governor must immediately appoint progressive commissioners – there’s no excuse for quorums to lock down the SCOC. Of the people, by the people, for the people’ must apply to the SCOC and not just be said about elections and juries.”
Yonah Zeitz, advocacy director of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice: “As jails and prisons across New York face crises and dangerous conditions, it is unconscionable that New York’s independent watchdog agency is currently unable to function. The utter disregard for incarcerated people led to the brutal murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi in state prisons. In response, the governor said she was committed to increasing oversight and accountability, yet her inaction speaks louder than words. With three out of the five commissioner seats vacant and without a quorum, Gov. Hochul must swiftly appoint new commissioners to ensure the agency will no longer sit idly by while incarcerated people face violence and abuse behind bars. We cannot continue the status quo of appointing sheriffs and law enforcement to lead this commission. Under their leadership, this agency has failed to live up to it’s oversights responsibilities, and incarcerated people have faced deadly consequences as a result. The governor must appoint reform-oriented commissioners, including a formerly incarcerated person, with the personal and lived experience to ensure the commission fulfills its mandate. Lives are at stake, and there is no time to waste.”
###