Press Releases

April 12, 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 the third death of a New Yorker in prison with COVID-19:

“Governor Cuomo’s lack of action is creating a COVID-19 catastrophe in New York State prisons. We are devastated and outraged that a third person with the virus has died behind bars. Data released today by the state prison system shows that 131 incarcerated people and 522 prison staff have tested positive for the virus so far. Based on reports from people in prison, we know that the real infection rate is even higher. It is just a matter of time before many of these people and countless others die behind bars with COVID-19. The Governor should embrace the Catholic values he purports to have this Easter Sunday by granting wide-ranging clemencies to New Yorkers in prison, something that democratic and republican governors in several other states have already begun to do.”

April 12, 2020: COVID-19 Claims Another Incarcerated New Yorker; Advocates Demand Gov. Cuomo Grant Clemency Before More Die • COVID-19 BriefingRead More

April 6, 2020: New York, New York

Groups Renew Calls for Gov. Cuomo to Grant Emergency Clemencies and for Parole Board and State Prison System to Adopt Community Demands

(New York, NY) – The Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole
Preparation Project, VOCAL-NY, Worth Rises, and #HALTsolitary Campaign
issued the following statement as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the New York State prisons:

“We are both outraged and terrified that Gov. Cuomo has yet to take any action to release New Yorkers from prison in the wake of COVID-19. The virus is spreading, conditions are worsening, and action is desperately needed. Three people with COVID-19–2 incarcerated people and 1 staff person–have already tragically died. Many thousands of other incarcerated older people and those with compromised immune systems are at increased risk of death by this virus. We call on the governor to grant clemency now before it’s too late.”

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April 6, 2020: Status of the NYS Prisons and the need for Gov. Cuomo to Grant Clemency to elders and other incarcerated people vulnerable to coronavirus complications • COVID-19 BriefingRead More

April 3, 2020: Ossining, New York

In response to first incarcerated person with COVID-19 dying in NY state prison system, advocates hold press conference and vigil outside Sing Sing Prison to call on Gov. Cuomo to grant emergency clemencies. The group called on Gov. Cuomo to grant emergency clemencies to incarcerated older adults and other immune compromised people in prison.

Today, family members of incarcerated people, community leaders, and criminal justice advocates from the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, VOCAL-NY, and Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club gathered outside Sing Sing Correctional Facility for a press conference and vigil to call on Governor Cuomo to grant emergency clemencies to older people and others in prison with compromised immune systems who are vulnerable to COVID-19.

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April 3, 2020: Press Conference outside Sing Sing CF in response to first incarcerated person’s death from COVID-19 • Demand Gov. Cuomo release all vulnerable peopleRead More

March, 2020: New York, New York

Recommendations from RAPP and Parole Preparation Project:

Introduction: While the world works to adjust and enact drastic measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the public, a massive humanitarian crisis is unfolding inside New York state prisons. In order to effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19 behind bars, the Parole Board, Governor Cuomo, and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) must release people from the confines and horrific conditions of these facilities. If this action isn’t taken, incarcerated New Yorkers will face a catastrophic loss of life.

Releasing New Yorkers From Prison Is the Only Way to Save Lives in the Wake of COVID-19: Recommendations from RAPP and Parole Preparation ProjectRead More

March 27, 2020: New York, New York

(NEW YORK, NY) – The Release Aging People in Prison Campaign and
Parole Preparation Project released the following statement in response to
Governor Cuomo’s announcement that he will release 1,100 people who have violated parole from prison and jail:

“Governor Cuomo is doing the right thing by bringing relief to 1,100 New
Yorkers who were convicted of violating parole. We call on the governor to
use this as the first step towards justice for far more incarcerated New
Yorkers who are vulnerable to COVID-19. Thousands of elders and other
New Yorkers with seriously compromised immune systems continue to
languish in the governor’s prison system. The governor should grant them
clemency now before it’s too late.”

March 27, 2020: Statement in response to Gov. Cuomo releasing 1,100 people convicted of parole violationsRead More

March 19, 2020: New York, New York

(NEW YORK, NY) – Criminal justice advocacy groups, including The Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, VOCAL-NY, #HALTsolitary Campaign and Worth Rises released the following statement in response to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announcing that he has identified 40 incarcerated people to release from the New York City jail system in the wake of COVID-19:

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March 19, 2020: NYC Mayor De Blasio announces the city has ID’d 40 people in NYC jails to be reviewed for possible release. RAPP and partners say: InadequateRead More

March 17, 2020: New York, New York

Criminal justice advocacy groups, including The Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, VOCAL-NY, and Worth Rises released the following statement in response to an employee at Sing Sing Correctional Facility testing positive for Coronavirus—the first official COVID-19 diagnosis in the New York State prison system:

“COVID-19 has officially entered the New York State prison system. That means thousands of incarcerated elder New Yorkers and other people in prison with vulnerable immune systems are at serious risk of contracting and dying from the virus. Governor Cuomo must act immediately by granting emergency clemencies to older adults, pregnant people, those with compromised immune systems and serious respiratory issues, and others vulnerable to contracting the virus. This is no longer a hypothetical. It is time for the governor to take swift and thorough action now, and grant life-saving clemencies.”

March 17, 2020: Response to news that a CO from Sing Sing (Ossining CF) tested positive for coronavirusRead More

March 11, 2020. New York, NY

In Wake of Coronavirus Outbreak, Health Experts, Advocates and Elected Officials call on Gov. Cuomo to Release Incarcerated People Vulnerable to Virus

The Group Held a Press Conference to Call on Cuomo to Grant Emergency Clemencies to Older and Sick New Yorkers in Prison/

New York, NY – March 11, 2020 –Today, public health experts, elected officials, and advocacy organizations, including the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, VOCAL-NY, Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, and Worth Rises held a press conference on the steps of New York City Hall in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak. The group called on Governor Cuomo and the state legislature to take immediate action in support of incarcerated people and their families by granting clemencies to vulnerable people in prison, including older and sick incarcerated people.

The group also called on the legislature to take immediate action by passing Elder Parole (S.2144/A.9040) and the Fair and Timely Parole Act (S.497A/A.4346A), and to ensure that prison phone calls and visiting are accessible to people in prison and their families as the virus continues to spread. They also called for an end to prison labor exploitation and for the labor of incarcerated people to be fully compensated.

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March 11, 2020: Conference & Statement: Health experts and advocates call for release of incarcerated people vulnerable to COVID-19Read More