FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2026
Contact: Yonah Zeitz: 347-201-2768 yonah@katalcenter.org
Follow online: @katalcenter | #ShutRikers | shutrikers.org
Today, the State Commission of Correction, an Independent Oversight Agency for Jails and Prisons, Held Its June Monthly Meeting and Failed to Address the Various Crises Unfolding in Jails and Prisons Across New York
The Watchdog Agency Remains Hamstrung with Two Commissioner Positions Left Vacant by Gov. Hochul, including the Chair of the Medical Review Board, at a Time When Greater Oversight and Accountability Are Urgently Needed
New York, NY – Today, at 11 am, the State Commission of Correction (SCOC), New York’s jail and prison watchdog agency, held their June monthly meeting. This was the first monthly meeting for Alexander Dockery, the newly appointed SCOC, who is the first known formerly incarcerated person to sit on this oversight agency. Once again, the SCOC failed to address the multiple crises unfolding in local jails and state prisons.
Last week, Spectrum News broke a story about how incarcerated people are systematically being denied medical treatment in state prison. They found that it can take months for incarcerated people to receive medical treatment, if they get it at all. CANY found that at Marcy Correctional Facility reported medical problems went unaddressed 87% of the time. The SCOC, in their heavily delayed death reports, has also acknowledged that dozens of deaths can be attributed to issues related to medical care. Yet, the SCOC has failed to use its power to address these dire conditions. Right now, the agency is partially immobilized as there are two vacancies and no chair of the Medical Review Board.
Local jails are no better. Rikers Island remains deadly and dangerous. In 2018, the Commission called for the closure of Rikers, but has yet to take any meaningful action to achieve the aim, even as the toll of deaths rises and conditions worsen. As the city’s closure plan remains significantly off track, this year’s city budget fails to provide a clear, reconfigured plan that includes a definite date for when Rikers will be closed. This further highlights the gross inadequacy of this oversight agency.
As New York’s jails and prisons remain embattled with preventable deaths, violence, and overuse of isolation, it’s clear that greater oversight, not less, is needed to improve conditions and save lives. It is vital that Governor Hochul fill the two vacancies reform-oriented individuals and the SCOC must fulfill its oversight responsibilities..
Quotes from impacted community members and community group:
Kevin Valentine, member of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice, said: “As someone who has been incarcerated it has been infuriating to learn about all of the preventable deaths that have occurred in recent years in New York State jails and prisons. In 2024, Robert Brooks was brutally murdered by correctional officers at Marcy Correctional Facility. A few months later, in 2025 Messiah Nantwi was killed by correctional officers at Midstate Correctional Facility. At the Rikers Island jail complex 48 people died under the Adam’s administration. These deaths underscore the ever growing crisis in jails and prisons across New York. That is precisely why we organized to overhaul the State Commission of Correction and passed legislation to increase their capacity and diversity. As a result, a formerly incarcerated person has been appointed to this commission. The SCOC must now work to shut down these correctional facilities failing to keep people safe as is the case with Rikers Island.”
Lah Franklin, Member of the Katal Center, said: “As someone who has been incarcerated, I know how urgent it is to address the ever growing crisis in New York jails and prisons. In NYC at the Rikers Island jail complex we have seen an increase in preventable deaths, medical neglect and violence. Far too many people have died and in order to save lives the State Commission of Correction must act now. They must work to shutter Rikers once and for all.”
Ziyadah Amatul-Matin, member of the Katal Center, said: “I know so many mothers who, like myself, have had to fight for the well-being of their incarcerated children. We’ve had to endure so much pain worrying about them. I lost a brother while he was incarcerated due to physical abuse and medical neglect. I know how deadly jails and prisons across New York are and that is precisely why immediate action must be taken. The State Commission of Correction has the constitutional authority to ensure that all correctional facilities are kept in ‘safe, stable, and humane conditions.’ They have the power to shut down correctional facilities failing to keep people safe as is the case at Marcy Correctional Facility and the Rikers Island Jail Complex. They must move expeditiously to shut them down.”
Khadeeja Salahuddin, Member of the Katal Center, said: “I have family members who are incarcerated and I know that all they want is to be treated with dignity. Incarcerated individuals want to live to see another day, but because of the medical neglect, violence, and abuse, they worry daily about their lives. That is why we attended the State Commission of Correction monthly meeting to push them to address the conditions in jails and prisons across New York and keep our incarcerated loved ones safe.”
Melanie Dominguez, organizing director of the Katal Center for Equity, Health, and Justice: “As jails and prisons across New York face crises and dangerous conditions, the State Commission of Correction, New York’s independent watchdog agency, must use its wide-ranging power to address the conditions behind bars. No longer can this agency sit idly by while incarcerated people face death, violence, medical neglect, and abuse behind bars. The SCOC must fulfill its oversight mandate, lives are at stake. At a time when greater oversight is needed, Gov. Hochul has hamstrung the state’s watchdog agency by leaving two vacancies on the commission. The governor must rectify this situation by filling these vacancies with reform-oriented people to ensure this failing agency meets its constitutional mandate.”
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