PRISON VISITING PROJECT
WOMEN IN PRISON PROJECT
JUVENILE JUSTICE PROJECT
For over 170 years, the Prison Visiting Project (PVP) has carried out the CA’s unique mandate to keep policymakers and the public informed about conditions of confinement in New York State Prisons.
Created in 1991, the Women in Prison Project (WIPP) conducts visits to and reports on conditions in New York State correctional facilities that house women. WIPP works to reduce the use of incarceration for women, ensure that prison conditions for women are as humane and just as possible, and create a criminal justice system that treats women with fairness, dignity and justice.
Since 1997, the Juvenile Justice Project (JJP) has been working to reduce youth detention and incarceration, transform the youth justice system from a punitive model into one grounded in positive youth development principles, and support and empower young people who come in contact with the youth justice system.
Each year, PVP visits seven to ten of New York State’s correctional facilities that house men, and issues facilityspecific reports on prison conditions to both policymakers and the public, shedding light on problems and promoting effective and humane practices.
WIPP produces in-depth policy reports, fact sheets, briefing papers, and videos to support its policy agenda. The project runs ReConnect, a leadership training program for formerly incarcerated women recently home from prison or jail, and coordinates the Coalition for Women Prisoners, a statewide alliance of formerly incarcerated women and other advocates. WIPP engages in community organizing, conducts public education and works with the media to raise awareness about critical issues facing incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women.
JJP coordinates the Juvenile Justice Coalition, a statewide alliance of youth justice and child welfare advocates that supports and informs JJP’s advocacy agenda. JJP also coordinates Safe Passages, a training program that provides a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth to develop the skills to participate in and become leaders of youth justice reform efforts. Through its research, policy analysis, advocacy, youth leadership development program, and coalition work, JJP informs the policy debate on youth justice and promotes a shift towards a less-punitive system grounded in the principle that children should be treated as children.
TESTIMONIAL
TESTIMONIAL
TESTIMONIAL
“New York must address the long and ongoing racial injustice and paradigm of punishment infusing the incarceration system to promote transparency and accountability, ensure that conditions in prisons, jails, and youth facilities are humane, and ensure that the rights of incarcerated people and their families are protected.” – from CA testimony to NYS Legislature
“When you are a number and the state has control over you it is an experience that you want to forget. I participated in ReConnect, a leadership development and advocacy training program for previously incarcerated women. There are many organizations I have networked with, but I didn’t know what advocacy was until I took this class. It is something that I will continue doing for the rest of my life.” – ReConnect alumnus
Based on the research and findings, PVP engages in strategic advocacy for reform by working with the executive staff at an individual prison; urging the state to adopt agency-wide policies, replicate model programs, and institutionalize best practices; collaborating with formerly incarcerated people, service providers and community organizations to develop more humane prison policies; and by working with state policymakers to enact legislative reforms.
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“I was a teenager that was directly affected and impacted by the criminal justice system that arrests and prosecutes 16- and 17- year olds as adults. By being a part of this powerful movement, I hope the stories impact many, and change the minds of most so that teens will not be in adult jails and prisons.” - From Facing Time: Facing Future, a CA multi-media project on youth justice
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A FORCE FOR
CONDITIONS OF CONFINEMENT
WOMEN & THE YOUTH CRIMINAL JUSTICE JUSTICE SYSTEM
SOLITARY CONFINEMENT
VIOLENCE AND ABUSE
HIV & HEALTHCARE
FAMILIES & MENTAL INCARCERATION HEALTHCARE & INCARCERATION
PROGRESSIVE CHANGE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM SINCE 1844 Founded in 1844, the Correctional Association of New York (the CA) is an independent non-profit organization that advocates for a more humane and effective criminal justice system and a more just and equitable society. In 1846, the CA was granted authority by the New York State Legislature to inspect prisons and to report its findings and recommendations to the public. The only private organization in New York with unrestricted access to prisons, the CA has remained steadfast in its commitment to inform the public debate on criminal justice for over 170 years. The CA utilizes its unique legislative mandate to expose abusive practices, educate the public and policymakers about what goes on behind prison walls, and advocate for systemic, lasting and progressive change. Working in collaboration with a broad base of stakeholders and advocates, the CA works to build the power of the communities most negatively affected by criminal justice policy, and decrease the state’s use and abuse of incarceration as a response to the socioeconomic problems facing our communities. At the Correctional Association, our efforts are driven by a deep faith in the inherent dignity of all human beings. We are working to create a criminal justice system that treats people and their families with fairness, dignity, opportunity and respect.
THE CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION THE CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION
OF NEW YORK
OF NEW YORK 2090 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. Suite 200 New York, NY 10027 T 212.254.5700 F 212.473.2807 www.correctionalassociation.org
PRISON MONITORING RESEARCH POLICY ADVOCACY
VISIT US www.correctionalassociation.org
LIKE US FB/Correctional Association
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
FOLLOW US @CANY_1844
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LGBTQ YOUTH IN THE SYSTEM
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PUBLIC EDUCATION
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