The Correctional Association of New York www.correctionalassociation.org CA Bulletin A Force for Progressive Change in the Criminal Justice System Since 1844 Fall 2010 A Fair Chance for Families Separated by Prison O n June 15, incarcerated parents and their children received long sought-after and critical support in their efforts to maintain ties to each other and to protect parental rights. On that day, after years of advocacy by the Correctional Association of New York’s Women in Prison Project, the Coalition for Women Prisoners, and allies statewide, Governor David Paterson signed into law the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Expanded Discretion Bill. This bill amends New York’s ASFA law, which almost always requires foster care agencies to file termination of parental rights papers if a child has been in care for 15 of the last 22 months. The median sentence for women in New York’s prisons is 36 months, far exceeding ASFA’s timeline. Incarcerated parents often face barriers in meeting legal responsibilities required to preserve their parental rights, like maintaining contact and finding children a non-foster care home while they are away. The result? ASFA inadvertently tips the scales in favor of terminating parental rights of incarcerated parents, even when such an action is not necessarily in the long-term best interests of the child and family. Members of the Incarcerated Mothers Committee of the Coalition for Women Prisoners worked with photographer James Trory to create A Fair Chance, a short video that depicts stories about families separated by incarceration. These images of mothers and children are from that video. To watch A Fair Chance, please visit www.correctionalassociation.org Women in Prison Project staff and members of the Coalition for Women Prisoners with ASFA bill sponsors Senator Velmanette Montgomery and Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry. The new law—which applies to both mothers and fathers—allows foster care agencies to refrain from filing for termination if a parent is in prison or a residential drug treatment program or if a parent’s prior incarceration or program participation is a significant factor in why the child has been in foster care for 15 of the last 22 months. For the first time, foster care agencies will be required to inform parents in prison and residential drug treatment of their rights and responsibilities and to provide referrals to social services and family visiting programs. Because mothers in prison are much more likely to report having children in foster care than fathers, the new law has particular importance for incarcerated women. continued on page 4 > Juvenile Justice • Prison Visiting • Public Policy • Women in Prison continued on page 6 We at the CA believe that art, in all its forms, can act as a catalyst for empathy, compassion and dialogue. An effective tool for social change, art can heal, uplift, transform, and propel us towards action. Creative expression can give a voice to those who suffer silently behind prison walls; it enables us to shine a light on the darkest, most hidden injustices, speak the unspeakable, and find community. Art can help stimulate a much-needed dialogue about the most important issues of our day; and it can bring public awareness to the critical need for constructive change and sweeping reforms of prison-related practices and larger social policy. Stacey Thompson, Giancarlo Esposito and Anisah Thompson CA Honors Peter Swords with 1844 Medal, Celebrates Art and Social Justice O n June 15th, the Correctional Association honored Peter Swords, a long time board member and Treasurer of the Association, with our 1844 Medal at our annual spring benefit. This year’s benefit, Art for Justice, held at the beautiful Rubin Museum of Art, featured moving performances from actor/director/producer Giancarlo Esposito; Haitian musical legend Emeline Michel; CA staff members Stacey Thompson, Richard Bryant and Sam Streed; poet, activist, and educator Ella Turenne; folk musician Terry Winchell; and poet and ReConnect graduate Sharon White-Harrigan. The CA extends its deepest gratitude to all those whose generosity helped us to create a successful evening and to pay tribute to our great friend and ally Peter Swords. We would especially like to recognize the invaluable work of our creative consultant, Kathy Engel, who helped to coordinate the evening of performances. We also extend a very special thanks to the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation and the Rubin Museum of Art for their generosity and assistance throughout the event planning process. n All event photos courtesy of James Trory Terry Winchell Anisah Thompson and Sharon White-Harrigan Emeline Michel CA Executive Director Robert Gangi (L) and former Board Chair William J. Dean (R) with 1844 Medalist Peter Swords (C) Ella Turenne Spotlight on the Juvenile Justice Project Welcome, Gabrielle Prisco T Correctional Association Staff Robert Gangi, Executive Director Juvenile Justice Project Gabrielle Prisco, Director he Correctional Association is very pleased to welcome Gabrielle Prisco as the new Director of our Juvenile Justice Project (JJP). She is a seasoned, skilled and passionate advocate with extensive experience in juvenile justice and child welfare, racial justice, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. Gabrielle previously served as the Project Manager of the Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice Data Collection and Policy Project. She also worked as a Legal Aid attorney representing children in Family Court, primarily in child abuse and neglect cases, and developed and presented staff trainings on LGBT issues. “Now is a critical time for transformation of the youth justice system,” says Gabrielle. “The federal Department of Justice’s findings on the routine abuse of children in state-run prisons, the recent media attention on the lack of mental health and educational services for detained and incarcerated youth, and the appointment of reform-minded government officials have created unique opportunities to improve the lives of children, families and communities. I am thrilled to join the Correctional Association and to add my voice to the collective call for justice and dignity for all New Yorkers.” Gabrielle succeeds Avery Irons, now Director of Youth Justice Programs at the Children’s Defense Fund. “Avery did invaluable work for the CA over the years, guiding and supporting the project and advancing the cause of justice for New York’s young people. She continues to be an exceptional mentor for the youth in our Safe Passages program. We are enormously grateful and wish her the best in her new position,” says CA Executive Director Robert Gangi. “We are certain that Gabrielle’s superb leadership skills and enthusiastic commitment to improving the lives of young people will add significant energy to and aid in the movement to transform the youth justice system.” n Prison Visiting Project The Political Landscape Caitlin Kundrat, Editor T he visions of leaders of key juvenile justice and child welfare agencies in New York are now more aligned with advocates’ agendas than at any other time in recent history. Since her 2007 appointment as Commissioner of the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)—the state agency that operates juvenile prisons—Gladys Carrión has persistently addressed the system’s entrenched problems, such as high recidivism rates and the disproportionate confinement of youth of color, and has worked closely with JJP and other advocates to develop an ambitious reform agenda. Vincent Schiraldi, the new Commissioner of the NYC Department of Probation, has likewise called for sweeping changes in the treatment of youth caught up in the system. Both leaders have demonstrated a commitment to advancing more therapeutic, less punitive models of juvenile justice, greater use of evidencebased alternative programs, and placements closer to young people’s communities. “As New York undertakes watershed juvenile justice reform, there needs to be strong advocacy not only to help push through the reforms but also to ensure that the new system we create is durable and sustainable.” —NYC Department of Probation Commissioner Schiraldi Experience has shown us it is a serious mistake to de-emphasize the role of the advocacy community in times of progressive reform. Strong advocates like the CA are crucial to maintaining accountability and transparency and to making certain that government advances and implements the right reforms. Additionally, even the most reform-minded government officials are limited by the scope of their individual roles, budgetary realities and the larger political context in which they work. And while the current administration is reform-minded, an over-reliance on individual government officials can eventually backfire if political winds shift. n You can help The financial support of concerned individuals is essential to our ability to carry out the critical work of reducing the number of youth who come in contact with the juvenile justice system; keeping children who are incarcerated safe, healthy, and closer to their homes and families; and saving taxpayer money. Please consider making a generous gift to the Correctional Association today. Jack Beck, Director Cindy Eigler, Assoc. Dir. Special Projects Darcy Hirsh, Assoc. Dir. Prison Monitoring Public Policy Project Denise Thomas, Associate Director Women in Prison Project Tamar Kraft-Stolar, Director Serena Alfieri, Associate Director of Policy Stacey Thompson, Coalition Associate Jaya Vasandani, Assoc. Dir. Prison Monitoring Jacqueline Velez, Administrative Assistant Andrea Williams, ReConnect Program Director Development Marci McLendon, Director Sam Streed, Associate Director Caitlin Kundrat, Dev. and Comm. Associate Richard Bryant, Fiscal Manager Laura Davidson, Director of Operations Gina Cascino, Administrative Assistant CA Bulletin Board of Directors Chair Peter v. Z. Cobb Vice Chairs Gail B. Allen, M.D. | Barbara J. Berg, Ph.D. Ralph S. Brown, Jr. | Clay Hiles Michael B. Mushlin | James D. Silbert David D. Troutt | Gregg A. Walker Treasurer Peter Swords Secretary Seymour W. James, Jr. Directors John M. Brickman | Wilhelmus B. Bryan III Hon. Michael A. Corriero | Gregory L. Curtner William J. Dean | Baz Dreisinger Nereida L. Ferran, M.D. | Leroy Frazer, Jr. Richard M. Gutierrez | John R. Horan Elizabeth B. Hubbard | Ricky Jones Sharon Katz | Teresa A. Miller Meile Rockefeller | William E. Schroeder Hon. Felice K. Shea | Katrina vanden Heuvel William J. vanden Heuvel | Jan Warren Daphnée S. Woodley | Rev. Alfonso Wyatt A Fair Chance for Families Separated by Prison continued from page 1 Working with bill sponsor Assemblymember Jeffrion Aubry and expert advisors, the Project drafted the bill and, with the determined advocacy of members of the Coalition for Women Prisoners and its Incarcerated Mothers Committee, secured its passage in the Assembly every year since 2007. With strong sponsorship by Senator Velmanette Montgomery, the Coalition and community partners mounted an intensified campaign for the bill in the State Senate, including: organizing a series of advocacy days in Albany; creating a user-friendly one-pager and photo slideshow; securing support from key organizations and the State Office of Children and Family Services; stepping up efforts to facilitate the leadership of women directly affected by ASFA; and providing opportunities for mothers to share their experiences in written documents, public forums, and press conferences. All documents, press clips and videos are available on the CA’s website: www.correctionalassociation.org. One-by-one, the Project garnered the commitment of senators. By April, all but four of the majority needed to secure passage of the bill had pledged their support. Coalition members, including many formerly incarcerated mothers, travelled to Albany to meet with the remaining hold-outs. The action was a success. Two legislators pledged their support that day and two others agreed shortly after. After a vigorous floor debate, the Senate passed the bill three weeks later. The new law places New York among the most progressive states in the country for child welfare policies that recognize the special circumstances of families separated by incarceration. In the months to come, the Women in Prison Project and the Coalition for Women Prisoners will work to ensure that the new law is implemented effectively and helps to prevent the devastating, permanent separation of families—families who can, if given a fair chance, rebuild safe, loving and life-long relationships. n 2090 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd., Suite 200, New York, NY 10027 | 212-254-5700 | www.correctionalassociation.org more inside… A Fair Chance for Families Separated by Prison 1844 Medal and Art for Justice Benefit Spotlight on Juvenile Justice Project in this issue The Correctional Association of New York 2090 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. • Suite 200 New York, NY 10027