Causes: Civil Rights, Crime & Law

Mission: The driving force of our work is a belief in the inherent dignity of all human beings. We possess a deep faith in the human capacity for change. We advocate for a justice system that holds a person accountable for a crime yet does not condemn an entire life based on a person's worst act. We support policies and programs that give people a second chance — or, as in some cases, the first opportunity in their life — to meet their potential and positively integrate into society. Through monitoring, research, public education and policy recommendations, the Correctional Association strives to make the administration of justice in New York State more fair, efficient and humane.

Results: A few examples of our other policy successes over the last decade include:-The SHU Exclusion Law, prohibiting the placement of incarcerated individuals with severe mental illness in solitary confinement and mandating the creation of more humane residential mental health units; -The Medicaid Suspension Law, enabling incarcerated individuals to secure Medicaid coverage more expeditiously upon release from prison;-The Safe Harbor Act, protecting sexually exploited minors from prosecution and incarceration for prostitution;-The creation and implementation of a landmark anti-discrimination policy aimed at protecting incarcerated LGBTQ youth from harassment and abuse;-The DOH Oversight Law, requiring the Department of Health to monitor HIV and hepatitis C care in New York State prisons and jails. -The Anti-Shackling Law, outlawing the use of shackles on pregnant women who are incarcerated during labor and after delivery;-Rockefeller Drug Law reform, a set of significant reforms marking the beginning of the end of New York’s notorious, racially-biased mandatory-minimum sentencing statutes;-The ASFA Expanded Discretion Law, allowing foster care workers discretion to delay filing for the permanent termination of parental rights if a parent is incarcerated or in drug treatment.