END MASS INCARCERATION
We Believe in Transforming the Justice System
Mass incarceration and mass criminalization are not the answer to problems created by underinvestment and structural racism. We need to fundamentally transform the justice system and repair the harm done to our communities by investing in quality public schools, living wage jobs, affordable housing, mental health and substance use services, transportation, health care and affordable child care. Jails and prisons are not social safety nets.
Every New Yorker Deserves A Fair Justice System
Every person has inherent dignity and all people, including those who cause harm, are worthy of healing and love. So we must:
- Seal and expunge past convictions to make it easier for those who served time to find work and housing opportunities.
- End forced labor in prisons.
- Make parole fair, timely, and humane.
Ending Mass Incarceration is a part of Our Justice Agenda for 2022. Click here to read the full Justice Agenda and get involved in the fight!
New York State's Mass Incarceration Crisis
If New York were a country, it would have the sixth highest incarceration rate in the world. The crisis of mass incarceration and criminalization has devastated families and communities across New York State. Since the very beginning, the justice system has trapped people on the margins of society in an endless cycle of punishment. Each stage of the justice system has been designed to inflict the maximum punishment on the most vulnerable members of our society: people of color, queer and transgender people, people with disabilities and immigrants. When our friends, neighbors and family members are being targeted by law enforcement and locked in cages, it becomes impossible for us to build the strong, resilient and inclusive communities we all want to see.
New York State's Mass Incarceration Crisis
If New York were a country, it would have the sixth highest incarceration rate in the world. The crisis of mass incarceration and criminalization has devastated families and communities across New York State. Since the very beginning, the justice system has trapped people on the margins of society in an endless cycle of punishment. Each stage of the justice system has been designed to inflict the maximum punishment on the most vulnerable members of our society: people of color, queer and transgender people, people with disabilities and immigrants. When our friends, neighbors and family members are being targeted by law enforcement and locked in cages, it becomes impossible for us to build the strong, resilient and inclusive communities we all want to see.
“The bail reform law recognizes that detaining someone pretrial doesn’t make us safer – access to mental health services, family support, employment and housing are what actually address the root causes of harm and prevent crime. Bail reform must be fully and justly implemented.“
Vice President, Citizen Action of New York