NCJ Number
80264
Date Published
Unknown
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This annual report describes the Correctional Association of New York's activities during 1977, including prison visits, efforts to reduce overcrowding at the House of Detention for Men on Rikers Island, positions on State criminal justice legislation, and direct services for ex-offenders and inmates.
Abstract
The report first lists the 44 visits that Association members made to 20 State, county, and New York City correctional facilities between January 1977 and March 1978. Summary reports are provided for major visits which examined contact visit privileges, inmate disturbances, and work release programs. Problems encountered on Rikers Island are described, such as overcrowding and harsher treatment for detainees than convicted prisoners, and steps taken by the State and the city to improve conditions are reviewed. The Association's role in finding a solution to Rikers Island without reverting to legal proceedings is discussed. The report describes the Association's contacts with city and State officials over prison conditions and sentencing policies and summarizes its positions on 31 criminal justice bills introduced in the legislature. The Association provided counseling, job referral, and other assistance to 411 ex-offenders in New York City during 1977, visited upstate prisons to offer counseling to inmates, and helped many families of inmates. Funding is being sought to continue these direct services. Testimony given by the Association's president before the New York City Board of Correction and the Senate Standing Committee on Codes on definite sentencing is summarized. The report concludes with its project to develop a citizens' accounting program to monitor the costs of corrections being undertaken jointly with the Citizens' Inquiry on Parole and Criminal Justice. A directory of the Association's board members and a financial statement are included. See NCJ 80265 for the 1978 report and NCJ 80299 for the 1979 report.