Press Releases

May 13, 2020: New York, New York

WHO: People formerly incarcerated at Bedford Hills,VOCAL-NY, Release Aging People in Prison/RAPP Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, WESPAC, Alliance of Families for Justice, Center for Community Alternatives (in formation), New Hour for Women & Children–LI, Survived
and Punished, National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls

WHAT: Rally and virtual press conference

WHERE: Bedford Hills Correctional Facility (Bedford, NY) / ZOOM

WHEN: May 15, 2020 @ 11 AM

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May 13, 2020: Honoring Mother’s Day, Groups Rally at Bedford Hills CF to Demand Immediate Release of Women in NYS Prisons, Starting With Those Most Vulnerable to Death By COVID-19 • Media AdvisoryRead More

May 13, 2020: New York, New York

Advocates Demand Gov. Cuomo Grant Broad and Immediate Clemencies in Response to Figures From DOCCS That The Department Has Released Less Than One Half of 1 Percent of New Yorkers During COVID Pandemic

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May 13, 2020: NYS Has Released Less Than One Half of One Percent of Incarcerated NY’ers; Advocates Demand Gov. Cuomo Grant Broad ClemenciesRead More

May 11, 2020: New York, New York

Advocates Respond to Gov. Cuomo’s Exclusionary COVID-19 Prison Release Plan: Excluding People Effectively Sentences Them to Death

Today, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation
Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club released the following statement in response to a report from the New York Law Journal that Gov. Cuomo is slightly expanding his narrow COVID-19 prison release mechanism to allow the
early release of incarcerated people within 90 days of release who are convicted of non-violent crimes:

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May 11, 2020: Gov. Cuomo’s Exclusionary Release Plan Effectively Sentences Some People to DeathRead More

Event on May 7, 8 2020: Fishkill Correctional Facility, New York, New York

In Wake of More New COVID Prison Deaths, Advocates Hold Two Day Vigil Outside Fishkill Correctional Facility and Prison’s Burial Grounds To Mourn Incarcerated People Lost to COVID-19 And Call for Gov. Cuomo to Grant Mass Clemencies
The Groups Will Uplift the Message: Prisons+COVID-19=Death and Call for the Immediate Release of Vulnerable New Yorkers in Prison

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May 7, 2020: In Wake of More COVID-19 Deaths, Advocates Hold Two-Day Vigil Outside Fishkill CF and Burial Grounds • Media AdvisoryRead More

May 6, 2020: New York, New York

Advocates Slam Gov. Cuomo for Forcing Incarcerated People to Make Hundreds of Thousands of Protective Masks They Can’t Wear,
Call on Cuomo to Grant Broad Clemency and Take Other COVID Actions

Today, Worth Rises, Color of Change, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club released the following statement in response to a report in Mother Jones that incarcerated people in New York State prisons are making hundreds of thousands of face masks – for pennies on the dollar – and are prevented by DOCCS from wearing the masks themselves to protect against contracting COVID-19:

“It is outrageous that Governor Cuomo is forcing incarcerated New Yorkers – disproportionately Black and Brown – to make hundreds of thousands of essential face masks, while simultaneously preventing those same New Yorkers from wearing the masks themselves to protect against contracting COVID-19. Adding to their callous and inhumane policy, Governor Cuomo and DOCCS are paying incarcerated New Yorkers just pennies an hour to manufacture this essential PPE in settings that are known breeding grounds for contagious disease.’

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May 6, 2020: Advocates Slam Gov. Cuomo for Forcing Incarcerated People to Make Hundreds of Thousands of Protective Masks They Can’t Wear; Call on Cuomo to Grant Broad Clemency and Take Other COVID ActionsRead More

May 5, 2020: New York

Coalition Holds Media Briefing on COVID-19 in NY State Prisons
The Group Outlined What Gov. Cuomo Has and Hasn’t Done to
Protect the Lives of New Yorkers in Prison During the Pandemic and
Called for Broad Clemencies and Other COVID Related Actions

A coalition of legislators, health experts, advocates, and community leaders directly impacted by New York’s criminal legal system held a media briefing on the state of New York State prisons and releases amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Full zoom recording of the briefing here. The briefing featured Assembly Member Carmen De La Rosa (AD-72), Dr. Robert Cohen, and attorneys and advocates from the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, and FWD.us.

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May 5, 2020: Coalition Holds Media Briefing on COVID-19 in NYS Prisons • Fact v. Myths on Prison Conditions and ReleasesRead More

May 1, 2020: New York, New York

Legislators Sent the Letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo, DOCCS Acting
Commissioner Anthony Annucci, and Parole Board Chairperson Tina Stanford Demanding Swift Action To Save Lives

46 New York State Senators and Assembly Members signed a letter calling on Governor Cuomo to immediately release New Yorkers from state prisons who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Specifically, the letter calls for the release of people in prison who are aging and elderly, facing health concerns, parole eligible, or within a year of their release. The letter addressed to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Anthony Annucci, and Chairwoman of the Parole Board Tina Stanford argues the only effective way to slow the deadly spread of COVID-19 is to release these people from the confines of prison.

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May 1, 2020: Over 40 NYS Elected Officials Call on Gov. Cuomo to Immediately Release New Yorkers From Prisons During COVID-19 PandemicRead More

April 30, 2020: New York, New York

Today, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation
Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club released the following statement in response to news of the first COVID19 death of an incarcerated woman and Governor Cuomo’s plans to release some pregnant woman from prison:

“The Governor’s refusal to grant any clemencies led to the first COVID death of an incarcerated woman in New York State prisons. Darlene “Lulu” Benson-Seay was effectively sentenced to death because the Governor didn’t care enough about her to protect her from this virus by releasing her.’

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April 30, 2020: Advocates Respond to First Death of an Incarcerated Woman in NYS Prison and Gov. Cuomo’s Plan to Release Some Pregnant WomenRead More

April 27, 2020: New York, New York

Today, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club released the following statement in response to news that two more people at Fishkill Correctional Facility have died with COVID-19:

“Two more people at Fishkill Correctional Facility have died with COVID-19 because Governor Cuomo refuses to value the lives of incarcerated New Yorkers. It is clear that Cuomo’s prisons cannot stop COVID-19’s spread or the harm it inflicts on people behind bars. Fishkill and Sing Sing Correctional Facilities have more COVID cases than all other prisons in New York State. They also account for 7 of the 9 COVID related deaths of incarcerated people that have happened thus far. These tragedies are further proof that the only way for Cuomo to adequately respond to the presence of COVID-19 in New York State prisons is by granting broad clemencies to vulnerable incarcerated people and reducing the overall prison population.”

April 27, 2020: Two New Deaths in Fishkill Prison Due to Gov. Cuomo’s Disregard for the Lives of New Yorkers in PrisonRead More

April 22, 2020: New York, New York

Today, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club released the following statement in response to news that the fourth incarcerated person at Sing Sing Correctional Facility has died with COVID-19:

“Because Governor Cuomo fails to take real action for New Yorkers impacted in his state prisons, the fourth incarcerated person at Sing Sing Correctional Facility has died with COVID-19. He is the 6th incarcerated person in Governor Cuomo’s state prisons to die with the virus. 3.1% of everyone incarcerated at Sing Sing has tested positive for Coronavirus. That’s two times the infection rate of New York State and the true infection
rate in the facility is likely much higher because testing is appallingly limited.’

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April 22, 2020: Governor Cuomo’s Continued Inaction Leads to 4th COVID Death at Sing Sing PrisonRead More

April 21, 2020: New York

See Zoom press conference recording beginning at: 38:20:
bit.ly/April21Recording; Password: 2A&+8d=3

Advocates Hold Statewide Day of Action Outside State Prisons and
Governor’s Mansion Calling on Gov. Cuomo to Grant Mass Clemencies
to Incarcerated New Yorkers Vulnerable to COVID-19

The Groups Rallied Behind the Message: Prisons + COVID-19 = Death
and Called for the Immediate Release of Vulnerable New Yorkers in Prison

A coalition of advocates and community members hosted a coordinated statewide virtual press conference, socially distant noise demonstrations, and car caravans outside two state prisons and the Governor’s mansion to call on Governor Cuomo to grant immediate clemencies to incarcerated New Yorkers vulnerable to COVID-19. The press conference featured speakers impacted by both Otisville and Bedford Hills Correctional Facilities, which house high numbers of older and pregnant people, and others who are vulnerable to COVID-19.

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April 21, 2020: Advocates Rally Statewide Calling on Gov. Cuomo to Grant Mass Clemencies to Incarcerated New Yorkers Vulnerable to COVID-19Read More

April 18, 2020: New York, New York

Today, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation
Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club released the following statement in response to Governor Cuomo’s action to release a select few incarcerated older New Yorkers within 90 days of their release:

“It is appalling that Governor Cuomo continues moving forward with his fundamentally insufficient plan to release a small and limited number of older people from state prison. Today, the Governor’s Secretary confirmed what we feared: that Cuomo’s new action will exclude 98% of older people in New York State prisons. That means many thousands of elder New Yorkers will remain at serious risk of dying behind bars from COVID-19.’

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April 18, 2020: Advocates Slam Gov. Cuomo for Plan to Release Only a Select Few Incarcerated NY’ers during COVID-19 PandemicRead More

April 21, 2020, 1pm: Outside Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County, Governor Cuomo’s Mansion in Albany, and Otisville Correctional Facility in the Hudson Valley

The Groups Will Uplift the Message: Prisons + COVID-19 = Death and Call for the Immediate Release of Vulnerable New Yorkers in Prison

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April 21, 2020: Advocates Hold Coordinated Statewide Day of Action at State Prisons and Governor’s Mansion Calling for Gov. Cuomo to Grant Mass Clemencies to Incarcerated New Yorkers Vulnerable to COVID-19 • Media AdvisoryRead More

April 16, 2020: New York, New York

In Contrast to Governor’s Briefings, Advocates Provided Detailed Updates on the COVID-19 Crisis that Is Unfolding for New Yorkers Behind Bars

Today, the Justice Roadmap — a coalition of immigration and criminal justice advocates fighting to reverse the long history of criminalization of Black and Brown New Yorkers — held “The People’s Briefing” to report on the pandemic behind bars in New York State. They cited the glaring omission from the Governor’s daily press briefings of updates or action related to New Yorkers incarcerated in jails, prisons, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention in the state. In addition to providing detailed reports, advocates shared urgent demands and a petition to Governor Cuomo calling for immediate action to save lives.

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April 16, 2020: “People’s Briefing” Demands Gov. Cuomo Take Immediate Steps to Address Public Health Crisis Unfolding in State’s Jails, Prisons, and Detention Centers (Media Advisory)Read More

April 14, 2020: New York, New York

Read Here for Cuomo’s release announcement via NY Post

Today, the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation
Project, #HALTsolitary Campaign, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic. Club released the following statement in response to Governor’s action to release a select few incarcerated older New Yorkers within 90 days of their release:

“While we are so excited for the incarcerated New Yorkers who will soon be released early, and delighted for their families who will welcome them home, we are appalled by the exclusionary nature of the Governor’s action. People aged 55 and older convicted of “non-violent” crimes who are within 90 days of release represent only a small fraction of the aging and elderly New Yorkers in prison vulnerable to COVID-19. Excluding thousands of people who are most at risk of dying and least likely to come back to prison will not promote public health or safety.’

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April 14, 2020: Advocates Slam Governor Cuomo for Playing God with Peoples’ Lives After He Releases a Select Few Incarcerated Older New YorkersRead More