The Correctional Association of New York (CA) was founded in 1844 by a group of New York’s leading citizens concerned about brutal prison conditions and the lack of services available for individuals returning to their communities after incarceration. In 1846, the New York State Legislature granted the organization authority to inspect prisons and to report its findings to policymakers and the public – authority that has been granted to only one other organization in the country. This special legislative privilege enables the CA to shine a spotlight on the dark corners of New York State’s prison system and to advocate for improvements in conditions of confinement. Through four projects – Women in Prison, Prison Visiting, Juvenile Justice and Public Policy/Drop the Rock – the CA advocates for a more fair and humane criminal justice system and a more safe and just society.
Created in 1991, the Women in Prison Project is dedicated to: (1) creating a criminal justice system that addresses women’s specific needs, protect women’s rights and treats people and their families with fairness, dignity and respect; (2) ensuring that prison conditions for women are humane and just; (3) stopping the misuse of prison as a response to the social problems that drive crime; and (4) facilitating the involvement and leadership of currently and formerly incarcerated women in efforts to reform policies that directly affect their lives.
Under the CA’s legislative mandate, the Project has the unique authority to monitor conditions inside correctional facilities that house women inNew York State. The Project also manages ReConnect, a semi-annual leadership training program for women recently released from prison and jail, and coordinates the Coalition for Women Prisoners, a statewide alliance of more than 1,600 individuals and over 100 organizations dedicated to changing the criminal justice system for women and families. The project carries out its mission through a range of integrated and strategic initiatives including prison monitoring, policy advocacy, research and report writing, public education, coalition-building, community organizing, and leadership development.
