Yesterday, the state legislature passed the New York State budget, which included various measures related to State prisons: 

• Requiring correction officers in New York State prisons to wear body cameras during all interactions with incarcerated people, including in the infirmary, during disciplinary hearings, and other instances where incarcerated people are frequently abused by prison staff. 

• Allowing up to three prison closures in the coming fiscal year. 

• Slight increase of funding for the State Commission of Correction (SCOC), as well as a new mandate for the SCOC to inspect every facility under its purview at least once per year. 

• Increase of funding for the Correctional Association of New York from $2M to $3.125M 

What the budget did not include:  

• Serious reforms to New York’s abusive and flawed prison system, which were promised by the Governor and legislators after correction officers murdered both Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi  

In response, New York Senator Julia Salazar, Chair of the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, released the following statement: 

“I am proud of the progress we made, including requiring correction officers to wear body cameras, allowing for the closure of up to three prisons, and increasing funding for CANY and SCOC. These are encouraging steps forward. However, this is by no means enough to reform our abusive and flawed prison system. For decades, correction officers have tortured incarcerated people with little to no accountability, and our parole system continues to leave thousands of rehabilitated people wasting away behind bars." 

"After correction officers murdered Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi, we promised serious reform. In the month remaining before the end of this legislative session, I’m calling on lawmakers and the Governor to enact substantial legislation that will increase oversight and accountability, end the rampant abuse happening inside of prisons, and expand pathways toward release. In the coming days, I plan to formally outline my priorities for the remainder of this session as Chair of Crime Victims, Crime and Correction”