(New York) – Today, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a prison oversight omnibus bill. Jose Saldaña, Director of the Release Aging People in Prison Campaign (RAPP) and a survivor of 38 years in New York State prisons, released the following statement:
(New York) — “It should not take the senseless, racist killings of Robert Brooks, Messiah Nantwi, and many other incarcerated Black people by prison guards and sergeants—nor the brutality and sexual violence routinely inflicted on countless others in prison—for our elected officials to act. Some of my fellow prison survivors and people with loved ones inside as well as several dedicated lawmakers put time and energy into making these new laws a reality and for them, we are pleased. While there are provisions in this bill that we supported, and that we hope make a real impact, it is a travesty that the state failed to create fair pathways home or directly change the abusive and deadly conditions inside. It remains urgent for the Legislature and Governor to enact the Fair & Timely Parole Act, the Elder Parole Act, sentencing reforms, and the Rights Behind Bars bill, and for DOCCS to finally follow the HALT Solitary Law. …