They ask the NYC Board of Prisons to enact a “no swimsuit” regulation in opposition to solitary confinement – El Diario NY

In January final 12 months the Metropolis Council handed the leaflet on the mayor, Eric Adamsand permitted native regulation 42 in opposition to it solitary confinement of inmates in metropolis jails, a standard observe by which inmates are locked in cells, utterly alone, many of the day, for as much as 23 hours a day.

And whereas jail authorities within the Huge Apple insist that this sort of punishment for violent inmates is not utilized in New York amenities comparable to Rikers Island, they as an alternative implement the they are saying. “self-discipline by energy”, which ensures no less than 7 hours outdoors the cells, defenders, relations of prisoners, and accused and beforehand convicted folks deny that solitary confinement There’s nonetheless an actual finish, so that they need to assure that the regulation that ends it will likely be applied.

That was the decision made by dozens of activists this previous Monday in Foley Sq., Manhattan, earlier than a public listening to known as by the New York Metropolis Jail Board, by which they heard testimonies and proposals by which they urged on that group. Vote on Tuesday, June 25 for the managed and detailed implementation of the brand new municipal commonplace.

The regulation mandates its implementation in prisons, beginning July 28and the lest it stay a useless letter If there are not any outlined steps that can put everybody on the identical web page, and solitary confinement, which, amongst different issues, is alleged to generate psychological, emotional and behavioral injury, continues to be applied.

Here is what he stated Edwin Santana, organizer of Freedom Agendawho denied that the jail authorities intend to cover solitary confinement, just by altering its title, and requested the jail administration physique to elucidate clear strategies that ‘ promise, beginning subsequent month, that lengthy confinement in solitary cells will finish in prisons.

“We’re pushing to implement what the Metropolis Council agreed to and we’re asking the Jail Board to do what they’ve to take action that each Mayor Adams and the individuals who working there. Rikers Island “Be on the identical web page when the regulation goes into impact, which shall be in July,” stated the previous Latino inmate, who says he skilled the ravages of solitary confinement within the late ’90s when to lose his freedom.

“The actual downside is that they’re no longer on the identical web page and that stops actual progress.” What they did at Rikers is eradicate the phrase restraint, however in observe, they proceed to do the identical factor. They solely modified the title, however now we now have to do every thing the regulation says, and the Board additionally has to elucidate, not solely how the regulation says be granted, however how they’re to observe its compliance.” identified the neighborhood chief. “It is about working collectively and never them in opposition to us. “If we come collectively, we are able to make progress and finish solitary confinement and search for alternate options.”

And when talking in regards to the proposed guidelines to implement Native Legislation 42, Akiana Smith of the group WCJA (Girls’s Neighborhood Justice Affiliation) urged them to be applied​​​​ instantly to cease what she known as torture, and save lives and enhance security for all.

“The Metropolis Council should enact Native Legislation 42 now to guard our moms, sisters and daughters on the Rose M. Singer Middle at Rikers. And jail liberation efforts should be intensified so that ladies and gender-broad folks return to our communities safely with the assets they want,” the activist stated. “We have to finish the trauma now, finish the isolation no matter you name it, isolation is torture. Layleen Polanco was in Rikers as a result of she could not publish bail. She was positioned in isolation in opposition to physician’s recommendation and it killed her. What number of extra should die?”

Councilor Tiffany Cabán requested the Jail Board and the Metropolis Administration to align themselves with the articles permitted in opposition to prisoners solely, and pressured that torture can not proceed ‘ go together with legitimacy in New York prisons.

“Right here in New York state we do not have the loss of life penalty. We agreed as a society that such a sentence was merciless and strange punishment. If you find yourself charged with a criminal offense and despatched to Rikers, you shouldn’t face the loss of life penalty. And also you shouldn’t be tortured. That’s the reason we’re asking the Board of Corrections, an oversight physique and oversight businesses, to make sure that this administration follows the legal guidelines and adopts laws to implement Native Legislation 42,” stated a politician “The torture at Rikers Island has to finish. In any other case, we’ll proceed to listen to the identical excuses that we do not have isolation, or that we now have solitary confinement or cages.” cages, however not on their very own. “They should maintain the mayor and administration accountable and finish the runoff on their very own.”

Edwin Santana, organizer of Freedom Agenda. Photograph: Edwin Martinez

Councilwoman Sandy Nursechairman of the Metropolis Council’s Legal Justice Committee, has requested the Jail Board to not ignore the options and cries of those that ship out their opinions and testimonies, and to ensure that the permitted regulation will see the sunshine throughout the prisons.

“We hope they do the appropriate factor. It took us a very long time to get right here, however the Metropolis Council has taken motion to make sure that individuals are not tortured. It’s now the accountability of the Board of Corrections to make sure that the longer term laws are absolutely in accordance with Native Legislation 42,” stated the Latina advisor. “We hope they are going to settle for the suggestions of the coalitions and the Council. It’s crucial that we don’t return. It took a variety of group, laborious work, and heartbreaking tales to get right here. We hope that this Board will really take heed to the voices of the folks and absolutely align its guidelines with Native Legislation 42.”

Candie Johnson, of the Jails Motion Coalition and Freedom Agenda, who described herself as a survivor of solitary confinement, having spent greater than 1,100 years in solitary confinement when she was held between 2012 and 2015, he stated that the implementation of the regulation that can finish in a lonely space in New York is not going to solely forestall deaths however is an ethical situation.

“The Board of Corrections should do God’s work by implementing Native Legislation 42. Doing so will save so many lives, so many souls. It has been 5 years and ten days since Layleen Polanco was murdered in a secluded space. After I was alone the officers would giggle at me for attempting to commit suicide. Within the movies, you possibly can see the officers getting offended with Layleen,” stated the younger girl. “It is important that we finish isolation. The Board will try this. There isn’t a treatment for my recollections and nightmares. However when the DOC and BOC implement Native Legislation 42, they are going to forestall others from having nightmares like mine or extra deaths like Layleen. “

Dr. Victoria Phillipsof the Jails Motion Coalition, pressured the decision for the Board of Corrections to pay attention rigorously to public feedback on the foundations for implementing Native Legislation 42, to make sure that solitary confinement will exit of prisons within the Huge Apple.

Councilors Tiffany Cabán and Sandy Nurse on the present. Photograph: Edwin Martinez

“The board should undertake guidelines to implement Native Legislation 42. New York doesn’t have the loss of life penalty and Rikers Island is an area jail. “Everybody deserves to have their human rights protected,” the chief stated.

Details about the regulation in opposition to solitary confinement

• June 25 is the date the Jail Board should vote on the laws to be applied
• July 28 is the date given by regulation to start out making use of to prisons
• 14 hours out of cells for all prisoners is among the provisions required by regulation
• 7 hours a day of the 14 should be included in group packages outdoors the cells as one other requirement
• 23 hours of each day solitary confinement and even longer intervals, inmate advocates deny
• 17 hours of solitary confinement for violent inmates is the utmost they are going to face beneath what they name enhanced supervision, authorities say
• 7 hours a day outdoors the cell inmates are remoted, jail authorities say