afj has been fighting on the frontlines for the rights of incarcerated people and their families as they pertain to the covid-19 pandemic since the pandemic began. this page contains our perspective, our experience, our demands, ways to get involved, and resource offerings.
our perspective
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, New York State has done the very least that it can to protect the lives of the nearly 40,000 people incarcerated in 52 prisons spread across the state. There has been little to no Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) supplied to incarcerated people, no social distancing, reports of lack of nutritious food, very little testing, and zero transparency about a plan for keeping those inside safe while being able to maintain crucial visits with family members.
In fact, all visitation was “on pause” from March until August 2020, and even when visits reopened, they were severely curtailed with new restrictions and time limits that put additional burdens on families that must often travel many hours for a single visit. The current plans to allow limited in-person visits include no personal contact/touching as well as restrictions on time, frequency of visits, and numbers of family members allowed; for instance, most medium and maximum security facilities will only allow visits on the weekends to take place twice a month -- a cruel and onerous restriction for families with overlapping work and childcare requirements, who must also travel for many hours for a curtailed visit. And the important Family Reunion Program (FRP), which allows for overnight family visits and is essential for maintaining family bonds and good mental and emotional health, never reopened.
In short, the approach to Covid-19 in New York’s prisons, and prisons across the nation, is inhumane.
With all that we’ve learned from AFJ’s family members’ experiences and discussions with incarcerated people since the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic, it is clear that the public--and importantly the media--demand a clear plan of action from Governor Cuomo and the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, which includes:
Open and safe visitation that that will:
Expand the available visiting spaces
Require guards to wear masks at all times including while working on the visit floor and interacting with visitors
Restore the Family Reunion Program
Cease issuing disciplinary tickets for family members kissing each other during the visit
Provide visits seven days a week at all DOCCS facilities
Substantially improved health and safety protocols for that still incarcerated, which means prison officials must:
Issue a full supply of adequate PPE to all incarcerated people
Implement social distancing protocols
Regularly test all incarcerated individuals, and post those results at least biweekly on the DOCCS website and include them in the Governor’s regular press briefings
Provide adequate nutrition
Ensure that care packages, which often include essential supplementary nutrition and hygiene necessities, are delivered in a timely manner with their contents intact
All of these procedures should be adopted and detailed in a public plan, with regular reporting on the status of their implementation by Governor Cuomo and DOCCS.
Get Involved
Sign up for AFJ’s email list
Find out about the latest news, commentary, actions, and updates in the fight for a safe, fair, and transparent approach to the Covid crisis in New York’s prions, the rights of families and their incarcerated loved ones, prison and criminal justice reform, and more.
check our event page, AND THE CALENDAR BELOW, for upcoming events and actions.
Call/email your elected officials and DOCCS:
resources
recordings of Events
“Speak Up and Speak Out: Incarceration and Covid-19”
An April 24, 2020 Congressional Black Caucus (Zoom) event with elected officials, experts including Soffiyah Elijach from AFJ, family members of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, and others.
Incarcerated: Covid-19 and the Plight of Families
A May 21, 2020 Virtual Town Hall with AFJ Family Members, AFJ’s Soffiyah Elijah, Danny Glover (actor, social justice advocate, Board Chair, AFJ), NY Senator Brian Benjamin, NY Assemblyman Michael Blake.
Bring Back Our Visits Car Caravan in Albany
A July 23, 2020 caravan/rally in Albany, New York.
OpEds, Letters, Written Testimony for Government Hearings, and Personal Stories
“Do Better New York: Protect Incarcerated People’s Lives,” a July 1, 2020 Medium post by Soffiyah Elijah, AFJ’s Executive Director.
“Opinion: Religious Leaders Call to Release People Facing Covid Risks from Prisons and Jails”, an August 2, 2020 OpEd in City Limits, by AFJ members.
“Family to New York’s Department of Corrections: Reinstate the Family Reunion Program; It Can Be Done Safely,” a Sept. 1, 2020 Medium post by AFJ member T.W.
“New York’s Coronavirus Response Failures Show Us, Again, Why Incarcerated People Should Be Able to Vote,” a Sept. 8, 2020, Medium post by AFJ member/volunteer James Melchiorre.
AFJ testimony from Board Chair Danny Glover, family member Karima S., on the impact of Covid-19 in prisons and the restrictions on visitation, for Sept. 22, 2020, NY Senate Hearing on the impact of Covid-19 in prisons convened by Senators Rivera and Sepulveda.
“NY Voters: Hold Leaders Accountable For Failing Incarcerated People During Covid Crisis & Demand All New Yorkers Are Enfranchised”, an Oct. 20, 2020 Medium post by Judith Plaskow, AFJ member/volunteer.
“One Couple’s Message About Love & Maintaining Bonds During the Pandemic,” a Dec. 2, 2020 Medium post by AFJ members Safiya Bandele and ibn Kenyatta.
“After a Year of Neglect, New York Still Needs a Plan to Address the COVID Crisis in Prisons,” a March 2021 Medium post by AFJ Advisory Board Member, Martha Ackelsberg.
Media Coverage of family stories, and calls to action
Albany Times Union, April 18, 2020: “Advocates ask state to provide masks to all (incarcerated people)”
Black Star News, May 14, 2020, reports on issues reported to AFJ by families and incarcerated individuals early in the crisis.
The River: Hudson Valley Newsroom, July 28, 2020: “Prison Visitation in the Era of Covid-19.”
North Country Public Radio, Aug. 6, 2020: “Advocates, Republican lawmakers clash over resumption of prison visits in North Country.”
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Aug. 6: “Families of incarcerated people rally outside of Cuomo’s office to demand visitation rights.”
Law.com, Oct. 30, 2020: “Legislators Rally for Prison Changes Amid Concerns of a Second Wave.”
The City, Nov. 4, 2020: “Families Fear for (incarcerated people) as Covid Spike Puts State Prisons on Lockdown.”
The Appeal, Nov. 25, 2020: “Families Urge Cuomo to Release Loved Ones From Prison During Covid-19 Pandemic.”
