PlatformforChallengingIncarcerationinNY
ThesystemofincarcerationinNewYorkcontinuestodestroypeople,families,andcommunities.Rootedinthe
ongoinglegacyofslavery,JimCrowsegregation,andghettoization,NewYork’spolicing,jails,andprisonsare
attheircoredrivenbyracism,dehumanization,andotherization.Blackpeopleinparticulararetargetedfor
criminalization,policing,incarceration,andotherstateviolenceandtorture.Women,queer,transgender,and
gendernon-conformingpeoplearealsotargeted,asareothermarginalizedpeople,includingLatino,Native
American,andMuslimpeople,aswellaspoorpeopleofallbackgrounds.Becauseincarcerationisatooland
productoftheintersectionaloppressionofourpeopleandcommunities,aparadigmofpunishmentinfuses
theincarcerationsystem.Theresultsareatrocitiesrangingfrompolicekillingsandviolence,topredatory
prosecutionsandextremesentencelengths,tosolitaryconfinementandguardbrutality,torepeateddenials
ofparoleandopportunitiesforeducation,tolackofsupportandperpetualbarrierstoreintegration.
Itistheaimofourcollectivemovementtopushforconcretepoliciesandundertakespecificactionsto
dismantlethisracistandpatriarchalincarcerationsysteminNewYorkandreconstructourstatethroughcaring
andempoweredcommunitieswithcontroloverthedecisionsandresourcesthataffectourownlives.To
enhancetruepublicsafetyandbuildstrongercommunities,NewYorkmustshiftfocusandresourcesaway
fromtheviolenceofincarcerationandtowardtheservices,programs,support,healing,transformation,and
empowermentthathelpcommunitiesthrive.Specifically,weaimto:1)Endmassincarceration;2)Promote
communityempowerment,education,reconstruction,andcontrol;3)Endstateviolenceandtortureandshift
awayfromthepunishmentparadigm;and4)Endstructuralracism,ensureafocusonwomen,LGBTIpeople
andgendernon-confirmingpeople,andprotectthehumanrightsofallpeople.Eachofthesecategoriesof
changeisinterconnectedwithoneanotherandallmustbeenactedinorderforanytobemeaningful.The
followingmeasureswithineachcategoryaresteppingstonestowardthesebroaderchangesthatNewYork
policy-makerscanandmustenacttoday.WecallonNYlegislatorsandtheGovernortoenactandeffectively
implementallaspectsofthisplatform.
1) Endmassincarceration
Reducethenumberofprisons,jails,youthprisons,andotherplacesofinvoluntarydetention,aswellasthe
numberofpeopleincarceratedinanyofthosefacilitiesinNewYorkStateandthelengthoftimetheyare
incarcerated.
Ø SAFEParoleAct,A.2930/S.1728:requiretheParoleBoardtobaseitsdecisionsonapplicants’
readinessforreentry,specifywhatanapplicantwhohasbeendeniedcandotobereleased,andgrant
releasetothosewhocompletetherequirementsanddemonstratetheirreadiness.
Ø RaisetheAge:meaningfullyraisetheageofcriminalresponsibilityfrom16toatleast18forall
childrenandallcrimes,andkeepallchildrenoutofadultjailsandprisons.
Ø Raisetheageof“youthfuloffender”status–S.1010/A.5022:Increasethemaximumageofaperson
tobedeemedayouthfor“youthfuloffender”(YO)statusfromnineteentotwenty-twotogivejudges
theoptionofimmediatelysealingoffensescommittedbyyoungpeoplewhosebehaviorsarelinkedto
theirevolvingimpulsecontrolabilities.
Ø BailReform,A.8551/S.6061:prohibitsettingbailtosecureattendanceofadefendantatafuture
courtproceeding,establishapreferenceforreleaseonadefendant’sownrecognizanceorrelease
subjecttoconditionsestablishedbythecourt.
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Ø EnsureSpeedyTrialTimeLimits,A.8296A/S.5988A:allowcourtstodetermineprosecutors’actual
readinessfortrialaswellaswhetheranadjournmentperiodshouldbeincludedforpurposesoftime
computationsforspeedytrialprotections.
Ø ChangetheMakeupoftheParoleBoard,A.6396:MandatethatParoleBoardmembershipreflects
theprisonpopulationintermsofrace,ethnicity,age,andgeographicareaofresidence,and
additionallymandatethatatleastone-thirdofcommissionershaveatleastfiveyearsofexperiencein
socialworkorreentrywork.
Ø Ensureparoledecisionsarebasedonriskandrehabilitation,A.9960:ClarifythattheParoleBoard
mustbaseitsdecisionsonriskandneedsprinciplesmeasuringpeople’srehabilitation.
Ø Releaseagingpeoplefromprisonthroughparole,clemency,medicalparole,othermechanisms.
Ø StopjailexpansionthroughoutNewYorkStateandratherthanconstructnewjailstolimit
overcrowding:implementbailreform,reducearrests,andexpandalternativestoincarceration.
Ø Endlifewithoutparole,adoptareentry-orientedsentencingcode,reducere-incarcerationon
technicalviolations,andoverallreducesentencelengthsandpromotealternativestoincarceration.
Ø Decriminalizedrugs–MarijuanaRegulation&TaxationAct,A.3089A/S.1747,FairnessandEquityAct
,A.6218/S.137(de-criminalizepublicpossession),A.10092/S.8047(sealingmarijuanaconvictions)
–andoveralltakeapublichealth,harmreduction,ATIapproach.
Ø Reducethepolicingofpeoplewhousedrugs.Takeallthenecessarystepstoauthorizeandestablish
SupervisedInjectionFacilitiesasapublichealthinterventiontoreduceHIVandviral
hepatitistransmissionandoverdosedeaths,topromoteaccesstodrugdependencytreatmentand
othersupportivecare,toincreasepublicsafetyandtoreducepolicingandcorrectionsinvolvementof
peoplewhousedrugs.
Ø Expandandimprovemechanismsthatarealternativestocriminalcourtandincarceration,including
restorativeandtransformativejustice,mediation,drugandmentalhealthcourts,andalternativesto
incarcerationprograms.
Ø EndtheCriminalizationofCondomsAct,A.7671/S.5638:prohibittheuseinevidencethefactof
possessionorpresenceofcondomsandothersexualandreproductivehealthdevices.
2) Establishcommunityempowerment,reconstruction,andcontrol
Empowerthepeopleandcommunitiesmostdirectlyimpactedbythepolicing,legaljustice,andincarceration
systems,movefundingandresourcesfromincarcerationandpolicingtocommunityenrichment,transform
prison-dependenteconomies,andbuildontransformativejusticestrategies.
Ø VotingRightsforAllPeople:providetherighttovoteforallpeoplewhoareincarceratedinprisons
andjailsinNewYork.
Ø Votingrightsforparolees,A.7634/S.2023A:restoretherightsofpeopletovoteuponbeingreleased
fromincarceration,ratherthanrequiringapersononparoletowaittobeabletovoteuntildischarge
fromparole.
Ø TuitionAssistanceProgram(TAP)restorationforpeopleincarcerated,A.2870/S.2975:restore
eligibilityofpeoplewhoareincarceratedtoreceivefinancialaidtoattendcollege,andalsoexpand
andimproveotherprogramopportunitiesforpeopleincarcerated.
Ø FairAccesstoEducationAct,S.969/A.3363:prohibitcollegesfromaskingaboutorconsidering
applicants’pastarrestorconvictionhistoryduringtheapplicationadmissionsdecision-makingprocess.
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Ø BantheBoxforemployment,A.2990/S.2029:prohibitanyprospectiveemployerfromaskingabout
acriminalconvictionunlesstheemployermakesaconditionalofferofemployment.
Ø NYDreamAct,A.4311A/S.1251B:allowundocumentedstudentswhomeetin-statetuition
requirementstoaccessstatefinancialaidandscholarshipsforhighereducation(aspartofavisionof
reconstructinganewNewYorkprovidingsupportandresourcestoourcommunities).
Ø Expandreentry/reintegrationsupport,includinghousing,employment,services.
Ø Institutelocalcommunitycontroloverpolicing.
Ø Expandrestorativeandtransformativejustice.
Ø Promotefamilytiestopeopleincarcerated,includingbyincarceratingpeopleclosertohome,
protectingparentalrights,restoringthefreebusprogram,andincreasingfamilyreunionprogramand
generalvisits.
Ø Promoteeconomiesandjobopportunitiesalternativetoprisons/jails,includingagriculture,
alternativeenergy,publicschools,SUNY/CUNY,andothersociallypositivedevelopment.
Ø Reinvestresourcesawayfromincarcerationandpolicingtoeducation,housing,health,andhuman
servicesthatstrengthencommunities.
3) Endstateviolenceandtortureandshiftawayfrompunishmentparadigm
Endallstateinflictedviolenceandtorture,includingpolicebrutalityandkillings,correctionofficerbrutalityand
killings,sexualviolence,thetortureofsolitaryconfinement,andtheviolenceofimprisonmentitself,and
fundamentallyshiftawayfromthepunishmentparadigminthejusticesystemandthroughoutoursocietal
institutions,andtowardempowerment,growth,healing,andtransformation.
Ø HALTSolitaryConfinementAct,A.4401/S.2659:endthetortureofsolitaryconfinementandcreate
morehumaneandeffectivealternatives.
Ø CloseAttica,andotherstateprisons,andstopbrutalityandabusesinallprisons.
Ø CloseRikersandotherjails,andstopbrutalityandabusesinalljails.
Ø CorrectionalOmbudsmantoexpandoversightandaccountability,A.9939/S.8059:createan
independentpublicoversightagencytomonitorNewYorkprisons,investigatecomplaints,andbring
transparency,fairness,impartiality,andaccountability.
Ø Stopsexualassaultsandabuseinprisonsandjails.
Ø Providegreateraccesstocomprehensivequalitymedicalcare–includingreproductivehealthcare–
intheoutsidecommunity,inprisonsandjails,andthroughcontinuityofcareuponreturnfrom
incarcerationtotheoutsidecommunity.
Ø Stoppoliceshootingsandbrutality,andenactpoliceaccountabilityandreforms(suchasA.7698A/
S.6001A–PoliceSTATActforuniformcollectionofinfoonpoliceactivity,andCommunitySafetyAct
inNYC).
Ø Sealrecordsforchargesrelatedtomarijuanapossession,A.10092/S.8047,andallowfor
applicationsforsealingofrecordofconvictionaftercrime-freeperiodoftime,S.2344.
Ø Endschooltoprisonpipeline,includingthroughpeermediation,conflictresolution,restorativeand
transformativejustice,guidancecounseling,mentoring,andparental&communitysupport.
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4) Endstructuralracism,ensureafocusonwomenandLGBTIpeople,andprotectthehumanrightsof
allpeople–includinggroupsdisproportionatelyharmedbythepunishmentsystem
Inadditiontootherelementsoftheplatformthatwillhelpdismantlestructuralracism,theremustbefurther
effortstocreateracialjustice,includingthroughhealing,communityempowerment,andtheprovisionof
reparationstopeopleandcommunitiesdevastatedbytheincarcerationsystem.Ensurethattheimpactofallof
theaboveonwomenandLGBTIpeople,aswellastheadditionaluniqueneedsofandimpactsofincarceration
onwomenandLGBTIpeople,areattheforefrontofallpolicychanges.Ensureallpeople–particularlythose
mosttargetedbythepunishmentsystem–aretreatedhumanely,withdignityandrespect,includingqueer,
transgender,andgendernon-conformingpeople,aswellaspeoplewithmentalhealthneeds.
Ø RequireracialandethnicimpactstatementsforjusticelegislationinNYandprohibitanypolicythat
wouldexacerbateracialdisparities.
Ø Truth,Justice,andReconciliationCommissioninNY,and/orothermechanismsfortruth,
reconciliation,andreparationsrelatedtotheharmsofmassincarcerationandpolicing(inadditionto
slavery,segregation,etc.).
Ø Reducetheincarcerationofwomenandensuretheparticularneedsofwomenwhoareincarcerated
areaddressedandprotected.
Ø DomesticViolenceSurvivorsJusticeAct(DVSJA),A.4409B/S.2036B:grantjudgesdiscretionto
sentencedomesticviolencesurvivorsconvictedofoffensescausedbythatviolencetoshorter
sentencesortoalternative-to-incarcerationprogramsinsteadofprison.
Ø Protectpeoplewithmentalhealthneeds,andphysicalandcognitivelimitations,inthecommunity,
includingthroughincreasedresourcesforcommunity-basedmentalhealthcare,crisisintervention
teamsandgreatertrainingofpoliceofficers,ATIs,andinsanitypleareform.
Ø Protectpeoplewithmentalillnessandphysicalandcognitivelimitations,solongastheyremain
incarcerated,includinggreatermentalhealthcare,bettercommunicationwithfamilies,expanded
residentialprograms,makingalternativementalhealthunitsmoretherapeuticandrehabilitative,and
greatersuicideprevention.
Ø SupportmembersoftheLGBTIcommunity,includingbyendingover-criminalizationandpolicing,
keepingLGBTIpeopleoutofyouthandadultprisons,ensuringLGBTIpeople’ssafetyinthecommunity
andifincarcerated,andprovidingculturallysensitiveinterventionsandsupport.
Ø DiscoveryReform,S.11/S.5996:improvegreateraccesstoinformation,reducewrongfulconvictions,
andfacilitatemorepromptdispositionofcriminalcases.
Ø ReleasePeopleOnTime:Ensurethatnopeopleareheldinprisonbeyondtheirsentence’smaximum
expirationdate,regardlessoftheircrimeofconviction,easehousingrestrictionsonpeopleconvicted
ofsexoffenses,createmoresuitablehousingoptionsforpeoplecominghomefromprison,and
generateaseparatewaitinglistforwomenawaitingshelterplacement.
Ø OneDaytoProtectNYers(notyetintroduced):reducemaximumpenaltyforAmisdemeanorsbyone
dayto364daystoprotectimmigrantNewYorkersfromtriggerstodeportation.
Ø Endsurveillance,infiltration,entrapment,andpredatoryprosecutionsandincarcerationofBlack,
Latino,Muslim,Arab,andSouthAsianpeopleandcommunities.
Ø Increaseresourcesfor,decreasecaseloadsizesof,andimprovequalityofpublicdefense,includingthe
GovernorsigningA.10706/S.8114tocommitNYStatetofundpublicdefense.
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