Dialed In: City Hall Set to Supply Free Phones to People Newly Released from Rikers

By; Reuven Blau via The City Rikers Island detainees fresh out of lockup — including some with serious mental illnesses — will soon receive free smartphones to better connect them with health care and other community services, THE CITY has learned. The plan to distribute phones comes after a 2003 court settlement in which a federal judge […]

First Rikers detainee dies in 2023

By: Tandy Lau via Amsterdam News Marvin Pines is the first person to die in Department of Corrections (DOC) custody this year. The 65-year-old was pronounced dead at the North Infirmary Command (NIC) on Rikers Island this past Saturday, Feb. 4, at around 6:18 a.m. “Any death in custody is a tragedy,” said DOC Commissioner […]

Katal New York Update-December 8, 2022

In this issue:
-Rally to Close Rikers: Tuesday, Dec. 13th at 12:00 pm
-Today’s Rallies on the Steps of City Hall
-Last NY Statewide Criminal Justice Call
-Quotes of the Week

Families demand a plan to stop COVID spread in prisons

By: Sujata Srinivasan via Connecticut Public Radio Supporters of incarcerated people gathered in front of the Department of Correction (DOC) headquarters in Wethersfield Wednesday to demand that the Lamont administration and the DOC “develop a comprehensive and transparent plan to address COVID-19 in jails and prisons in Connecticut.” They say that conditions for incarcerated people […]

After 30 COVID-19 deaths, protestors call for increased protections in Connecticut prisons

By Molly Ingram via WSHU Activists gathered outside Connecticut’s Department of Correction headquarters on Wednesday to demand stricter COVID-19 guidelines in state prisons. In total, 30 Connecticut prisoners have died from COVID-19 complications. Protesters said those deaths were caused by prison overcrowding, lack of personal protective equipment and poor testing regimens. The Katal Center for […]