When COVID – 20 in the prisons of New York they do not stop punishing their inmates with force and the Health authorities are ‘locked up’ by the low availability of the vaccine , more than 200 organizations fighting for The rights of the prison population and detention centers of ‘La Migra’ urge to promote an urgent path of justice that includes an immunization plan, and a series of reforms for parole and end with practices like solitary confinement.
More than 5, 500 New Yorkers incarcerated in state prisons have tested positive for coronavirus, meaning that nearly the 16% of New Yorkers behind bars have been infected, say spokesmen for the ‘Center for Communities Alternatives’ (CCA).
“At least 32 of those deprived of liberty have died. Currently there are virus outbreaks in correctional facilities of at least 14 penitentiary centers ”, highlighted the CCA leader, Marvin Mayfield in a virtual conference held this Thursday where assembly members and state senators shared details of their visits to some of these prisons.
“We saw from close the cruelty, the inhumanity of the system, of people subjected to solitary confinement for weeks. It is brutal, but the most shocking thing is that it is not illegal. That is why we must fight to change the laws. It is a political problem ”, reacted Senator Julia Salazar of the District 18 from Brooklyn , who visited the Fishkill Correctional Facility, located about 60 miles north of the Big Apple.
They rush a plan and new laws
A group of Albany legislators when monitoring several prisons throughout the state for a month, not only demand to rush the health authorities in access to vaccines against COVID – 19 for Incarcerated New Yorkers , but rather the approval of a package of draft laws that would enact a reform to the system of probation , would erase the application of punishments and guarantee that life “is more easy ”for those released.
In reviewing your visit to the Oran County Correctional Facility ge , Colombian-American senator Jessica Ramos, who represents Queens , clarified that although she found clean and disinfected areas, an application could be observed almost no periodic COVID tests – 19 , both for the staff and for the inmates ”.
“ The challenge is to have an urgent vaccination strategy for this population and that we accelerate the reform of the penal system. We should not expect more tragedies “, argued Ramos.
Although the governor Andrew Cuomo included in the coronavirus immunization plan for New Yorkers deprived of liberty who have 70 years or more, or are ‘medically fragile’, organizations continue to push for the 100% of the population of these environments , where it is almost impossible to maintain social distancing, are included in the first stage of vaccination.
Assemblywoman Anna Kelles, who toured some areas of the Auburn Prison , away to 260 miles from New York City, shared some stats: there were 1, 300 people imprisoned there. The 70% are people of color. The 40% are in compliance life imprisonment. There were 65 people in solitary confinement, 23 hours a day.
“The #JusticeRoadmap needs to be passed now. We shouldn’t wait for further tragedies. The best way we can begin to redeem ourselves as a state is by passing this package of bills. “
– Senator @jessicaramos who visited the Orange County Jail & ICE detention center pic.twitter.com/7Osgd2zW6a
– Center for Community Alternatives (@CCA_NY) February 16, 2021
Inmates during the pandemic
Other coalitions such as Alliance of Families for Justice (AFJ), which has been fighting on the front lines for the rights of incarcerated people and their families since 2016 , they are also pressing for new protocols against this health crisis in the prison system New York State.
“Response from Governor Cuomo and the Department of Corrections and Community Oversight (DOCCS), which oversees the 52 prison facilities that house 33, 376 imprisoned people , it has been weak, opaque and inhuman ”, highlighted Soffiyah Elijah, executive director AFJ, in a statement.
Almost a year has passed since the start of the pandemic and during all that time several coalitions have requested that emergency policies be applied as judicial pardons, to free the largest number of vulnerable people, especially the elderly.
“As expected, the virus spread throughout the system New York penitentiary with painful results. Just before Christmas of 2020, all New York prisons were closed to family visits , with all that that implies. The response during the pandemic has been more punishments, slower proceedings and solitary confinement for weeks and months in a row ”, concludes AFJ in a report shared with the media.
Indeed, the Puerto Rican Senator of the District 33 from The Bronx , Gustavo Rivera, narrated that during his visit to a prison in the Hudson Valley he spoke with an inmate who had attended six parole meetings , without any progress in his case.
“We have a system strictly focused on punishment . That is why each and every reform must move forward. It’s a human issue ”, he pointed out.
” I spoke with a gentleman who had gone to 6 parole boards. We still have a system focused strictly on punishment. That’s why every single bill in the #JusticeRoadmap is so damn important. “
– @NYSenatorRivera pic.twitter.com/6uiPbAL4OS
– Center for Community Alternatives (@CCA_NY) February 18, 2021
DOCCS: More prisons will be closed
In accordance with the proposal of executive budget 2021 – 22 of the New York Governorate includes legislation that would allow you to close correctional facilities as long as you notify to state legislative leaders at least 72 days before the closings. Under existing state law, there is a one-year notification requirement.
Anthony Annucci, the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Oversight (DOCCS), testified at a state budget hearing on Wednesday and briefly mentioned the Governor’s plan to close more state jails.
” Based on the continued decline in the incarcerated population, we anticipate additional facility closures in the next two fiscal years “, he explained.
The balance of Annucci contends that since Cuomo took office at 2011, have closed 18 state prisons.
He also highlighted that as of February 1, there are 40, 376 persons imprisoned in the 52 New York state prisons, which translates into that the population has decreased by 54. 1% from 1999 when there was 72, 649 inmates in the penitentiary system .
When consulted in previous sessions about the protocols to prevent COVID – 19 in the prisons under his charge, the state official has concluded that New York “has been a national model of COVID control – 19 within correctional facilities. With one of the lowest mortality rates. ”
What are the expected reforms? ?
- Conditional freedom fair and timely: applicable to all people in prison who do not represent a clear risk of breaking the law and a danger to communities. It would also imply the review of sentences that amount to death by imprisonment, which do not consider the changes that a person may have over time.
- Review of convictions for older than 55 years: It is proposed to address these “inhuman” sentences by allowing people in New York State who are this age and have served 15 continuous years in prison or more, may be considered for parole, regardless of their offense or sentence.
- Expungement of criminal records : In the opinion of reformers even after a person completes a sentence, the current New York system continues to punish them with barriers to access to housing and employment. A draft also proposes options to seek post-conviction relief for crimes that have been decriminalized.
- HALT prohibition: Refers to eradicate the practices of confinement or solitary punishment of inmates for acts of “misconduct”.
- 23% of the prison population of NY is of Hispanic origin according to the trends of the last 5 years.
- 15% of Hispanics who pay sentences in NY correctional centers are older than 55 years.
- 30% the penitentiary population in NY has decreased in the last 20 year os.
- 4, 022 inmates are eligible for parole according to with the balance sheets of organizations updated two months ago.
- 3, 305 people you are behind bars for violation of technical probation.
- 8, 291 Inmates of NY has more than 55 years.