In a letter to Eric Adams, we are again calling on him to address the growing crisis of Rikers Island and at the City’s other jails by moving forward with the following eight (8) steps: View full letter with detailed list of demands here.
DEMANDS TO END THE CRISIS OF RIKERS ISLAND Read More »
Rikers Island has been a hotbed for humanitarian violations for decades. Every year for the past decade, at least 10 people have died as a result of conditions on Rikers – whether it be abuse or neglect, both a result of years of racist and classist criminalization. New York City’s jails have been under federal
Receivership of Rikers: Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org Demands Released Ahead of the Thursday’s Federal Monitor Hearing on Rikers Receivership NEW YORK — As a federal judge considers shifting management responsibility of Rikers Island to a receiver, VOCAL-NY released a fact sheet with public education and demands for receivership that moves New York City closer to decarceration. “The mere existence of Rikers is a humanitarian violation,
Criminal justice advocates lauded the new poll as evidence Hochul should sign the bill. “This polling shows definitively what we’ve been saying for years: passing the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act is both good policy and good politics,” Nick Encalada-Malinowski, civil rights campaign director at VOCAL-NY, said in a statement. “The legislature has done its part
City & State: Poll: New Yorkers support Wrongful Convictions Act Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 MAYOR ADAMS’ BUDGET FAILS NEW YORKERS: VOCAL-NY WARNS OF DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES TO COME VOCAL-NY Joins Allies in Calling on Councilmembers to Vote NO on the Budget NEW YORK — Today, in response to a press conference announcing a handshake deal on Mayor Adams’ dangerous budget proposal, which includes a $2 billion
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, Mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS DISMISSAL OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS TIED TO CONVICTED NYPD OFFICERS; CALLS ON ASSEMBLY TO PASS CHALLENGING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ACT Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg Dismissed Over 300 Cases Brought by NYPD Officers Convicted of Crimes Related to Their Work NYS Assembly Will Come Back Into Session to Discuss Remaining Legislation Including
Even before officials’ recent moves to chip away at transparency, advocates questioned the accuracy of the data and other information being released by the department. Those concerns have only grown following the special report and the decision to no longer share information about deaths with the public, according to Eileen Maher, a Civil Rights Union
CITY & STATE: RIKERS OFFICIALS CHIP AWAY AT TRANSPARENCY MEASURES: Read More »
I’ve had many times in my life where I’ve struggled. When I gained my freedom after being incarcerated, it wasn’t easy reentering my community. Or when I was a regular substance user and knew I would die if I continued on that path. Even with limited resources, I was able to get the help I
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org UNACCEPTABLE: VOCAL-NY CONDEMNS ADAMS’ PLAN TO FUNNEL ASYLUM- SEEKERS INTO RIKERS NEW YORK — In response to the Adams’ Administration considering housing asylum-seekers on Rikers Island, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Eileen Maher, a leader with VOCAL-NY’s Civil Rights Union who was formerly detained on Rikers: “Rikers Island is
Unacceptable: VOCAL-NY Condemns Adams’ Plan to Funnel Asylum-Seekers Into Rikers Read More »
“If it’s between Katz and Grasso, I think regardless of the outcome, it’s bad news for Queens voters who want to see decarceration,” said Keli Young, civil rights campaign coordinator for VOCAL-NY, a progressive advocacy group. “Grasso is positioning himself to the right of Katz…and DA Katz is a carceral DA. The best that can
