October 19, 2020: New York state
Advocates Mourn the Loss of Another COVID-19 Death in NY Prisons
The Coalition Calls on Gov. Cuomo to Grant Emergency Clemencies and for Lawmakers to Pass Elder Parole and Fair and Timely Parole Bills
The Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, Parole Preparation Project, VOCAL-NY, Citizen Action of NY, New Hour for Women and Children, Center for Community Alternatives, #HALTsolitary Campaign, Capital Area Against Mass Incarceration, NY State Prisoner Justice Network, The Center for Race, Inequality, and the Law at NYU Law
School, CUNY School of Law Defenders Clinic, Center for Justice at Columbia University, and Queens City Workers’ Center released the following statement in response to breaking news that another incarcerated person has died from COVID-19 within the New York State prison system:
“We are outraged and devastated that another incarcerated person has died from COVID-19 in the New York State prison system. New York State prisons are experiencing a second wave of this deadly virus and Governor Cuomo and the Democratic-controlled Legislature in Albany are doing nothing to stop it. Because of their failure to act, another death is on their hands. Those in power must do everything they can to prevent more COVID-19 deaths behind bars. The only humane and effective way to do that is through release. Governor Cuomo must grant wide-sweeping, emergency clemencies to elders, immunocompromised people, and people within a year of release. The Legislature must pass the Elder Parole and Fair and Timely Parole bills. The lives of New Yorkers behind bars and their families depend on their actions.”
BACKGROUND: The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision confirmed today that an 18th person died from COVID-19 in the New York State prison system. The person was incarcerated at Fishkill Correctional Facility, where more incarcerated people have died from COVID-19 than any other prison in New York State. Fishkill has the second highest number of positive COVID cases than all New York State prisons. The person’s name and identity have not been released. This death comes amidst a spike in COVID cases at Greene and Elmira Correctional Facilities.