Today at 12pm, we’re rallying outside City Hall to demand: ❌ No new NYPD hires ❌ End broken windows policing & aggressive low-level enforcement ❌ End of homeless encampment sweeps ✅ Invest in real safety: housing, healthcare, preventative community-based care, & other social services. #CareNotCops

Today, we’re outside of City Hall with the Treatment Not Jails campaign calling for the immediate passage of the Treatment Court Expansion Act to expand mental health courts and reduce the jail population at Rikers. This is a critical component to shutting down Rikers. #ShutRikers

RELEASE: Yesterday, the State Commission of Correction (SCOC), New York’s jail and prison watchdog agency, held their June monthly meeting. Once again, the SCOC failed to address the multiple crises unfolding in local jails and state prisons. Here’s our release: katalcenter.org/2026/06/rele...

Today, we’re in Albany for the June Monthly Meeting of the State Commission of Correction, NY’s jail & prison watchdog agency. The agenda for today’s meeting fails to address the wide-ranging crises in jails and prisons, including incarcerated people being regularly denied medical treatment.

New OCA rule requires judges to visit a jail or prison annually to make sure they’re aware of the conditions behind bars. For too long, correctional facilities have been shrouded in secrecy and a lack of accountability. This is stepping the right direction to undo this. www.amny.com/new-york/new...

The brutal murder of Messiah Nantwi last year highlights the dangerous and deadly conditions in NYS prisons. The SCOC, NY's jail & prison watchdog agency, has failed its oversight responsibility for decades, and incarcerated people have died as a result. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...

Join us for today’s #NYCJReformCall at noon! We'll hear from: ◾Artie Malkin, Malkin & Ross ◾Serena Martin & Isabella Seda, New Hour for Women & Children ◾Tarini Garimella, Osborne Association ◾Kevin Valentine, Katal Center ◾Oded Oren, Scrutinize ◾Tricia Christensen RSVP: katal.info/newyork

WE DID IT. This afternoon the NY Senate confirmed Alexander Dockery, a formerly incarcerated person, as a Commissioner to the SCOC, NY’s jail & prison oversight agency. Our members & statewide coalition of 160+ groups fought hard for this win. See our press release: katalcenter.org/2026/06/rele...

Check out our most recent bi-weekly New York Update. Here's what's included: ◾Organizing to Implement Reforms to the State Commission of Correction ◾This week, Two Incarcerated People Die at Rikers in less than 24 Hours and more! katalcenter.org/2026/05/kata...

RELEASE: Formerly incarcerated people & their families meet with @governor.ny.gov'a administration to demand she appoint reform-oriented commissioners, including a formerly incarcerated person, to the SCOC before the end of the legislative session on Thursday, June 4. katalcenter.org/2026/05/rele...

Our members and staff protesting outside of the SCOC office building in Albany demanding @governor.ny.gov swiftly appoint reform-oriented commissioners to the SCOC — including a formerly incarcerated person. “Gov.Hochul keep your word, appoint a reform-oriented commissioners to the SCOC now!”

The SCOC monthly meeting was canceled today, as @governor.ny.gov has not appointed new commissioners, leaving the SCOC without a quorum to meet. This is why we’re here outside of the SCOC office building demanding @governor.ny.gov to appoint a reform-oriented commissioners to the SCOC!

We’re fresh off the train getting ready for the day by making poster’s demanding @governor.ny.gov to appoint reform-oriented commissioners — one of whom must be formerly incarcerated — to the State Commission of Correction.

Yesterday, our member Ziyadah Amatul-Matin & our advocacy director @yonahzeitz.bsky.social joined the Capitol Pressroom to discuss the need to increase oversight by appointing reform-oriented commissions, including a formerly incarcerated person, to the SCOC. capitolpressroom.org/2026/05/26/p...

On Sunday, our member Kevin Valentine & our advocacy director @yonahzeitz.bsky.social joined @spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social to call on @governor.ny.gov to appoint reform-oriented commissioners — one of whom must be formerly incarcerated — to the State Commission of Correction. ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...

RELEASE: Last night, news broke that Umais Khan, 40-years-old, died while incarcerated at the Eric M. Taylor Center on Rikers Island. This is the second death of an incarcerated person at Rikers in less than 24 hours. #ShutRikers See our statement in response: katalcenter.org/2026/05/2nd-...

Join us and Unchained this Thursday, May 21st at 6pm in Syracuse for our info session on the SCOC. Here we will learn more about the State Commission on Corrections (SCOC), the reforms that were passed last year, the new online complaint portal and ways to join the fight.

"It is inconceivable and shortsighted to end the ability of CANY to increase transparency by visiting and interacting with incarcerated individuals and staff at state prisons” — joint statement from Katal & the Alliance of Rights & Recovery in response to CANY cuts. davisvanguard.org/2026/05/ny-p...

Check out our most recent bi-weekly New York Update. Here's what's included: ◾Reforms to Expand the SCOC Taking Effect and the April Monthly Meeting ◾Monday’s Harm Reduction After the War on Drugs at John Jay College and more! katalcenter.org/2026/05/kata...

As jails & prisons across NY remain in crisis, @governor.ny.gov still has not appointed reform-oriented people to the SCOC. This leaves the SCOC without a quorum to function and a formerly incarcerated, which is required under law. @nysfocus.com @chrisgelardi.bsky.social nysfocus.com/2026/05/18/n...

RELEASE: This evening, news broke that Rajpattie Ramkellawan, 41-years-old, died while incarcerated at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island. This is the third death of an incarcerated person in DOC custody this year. #ShutRikers See our statement in response: katalcenter.org/2026/05/3rd-...

For decades DOC mismanagement has led to rampant abuse and a lack of accountability, which is why we pushed for a federal receiver. We welcome any steps to protect incarcerated people and stem abuse. We’ll be tracking to see if this truly results in better safety. queenseagle.com/all/2026/5/1...

Join us for today’s #NYCJReformCall at noon! We'll hear from: ◾Artie Malkin, Malkin & Ross ◾Cassandra Bocanegra, @thenyic.bsky.social ◾Isabella Seda, New Hour for Women & Children ◾Garrett Smith & Thomas Gant, Center for Community Alternatives and more! RSVP: katal.info/newyork

“As jails and prisons across New York face crises and dangerous conditions, it is unconscionable that New York's independent watchdog agency is currently unable to function,” said our advocacy director @yonahzeitz.bsky.social in response to the May 9th effective date. queenseagle.com/all/2026/5/1...

NYC is in the process of renewing a phone call contract for Rikers with Securus, which has a history of improperly recording attorney-client calls on Rikers. Securus also has a new AI platform that could store & share data from NYC jails to support ICE. #ShutRikers www.thecity.nyc/2026/05/12/r...

RELEASE: On Sat, May 9, the State Commission of Correction, NY's jail & prison watchdog agency, was expanded from 3 to 5 commissioners. As of today, the SOCC lacks a quorum to function & there isn't a formerly incarcerated person on the commission, as required by law. katalcenter.org/2026/05/rele...

The mismanagement of the grievance process by NYC DOCs highlights how the safety and well-being of incarcerated people continues to be an afterthought. The lack of accountability has led to over 100 dying at Rikers in the last decade. #ShutRikers queenseagle.com/all/2026/5/7...

Three deaths and constant abuses of policy's undergone in Bedford Hills Women Correctional Facility underscores the failing oversight of NY prisons by the SCOC. To address this crisis, @governor.ny.gov must appoint reform-oriented commissioners to overhaul the SCOC. nysfocus.com/2026/05/11/b...

Join us next Thursday, May 14th, 12pm, for our monthly NY Criminal Justice Reform Call. RSVP here: katal.info/newyork On this call, we’ll discuss the late state budget & where things stand on key issues such as climate change protections, protecting immigrant New Yorker's and more. #NYCJReformCall

We’re hearing from formerly incarcerated leaders, family members, and lawmakers including @salazarsenate.bsky.social, at the CCA’s Second Look Symposium at the @brooklynlawschool.bsky.social. The NY legislature must pass the Second Look Act this legislative session.

Yesterday, we tabled at the ElPuente Community Schools Resource Fair. This fair brought together local organizations, service providers, and vendors to help families. Here, we were able to talk to youth/families about the current crisis at Rikers and provided different actions for folks to take!

Yesterday, @mayor.nyc.gov appointed Dr. Ayesha Delany-Brumsey as commissioner of the new Mayor’s Office of Community Safety. Scaling up non-police responses to mental health crises is necessary to reduce the # of people getting arrested and sent to Rikers. #ShutRikers gothamist.com/news/mamdani...

Last week, our community organizer, Lakenya Smith, held a table at the BrownsVille Safety Alliance’s tabling event. Here she was able to talk to various people in the community of Brownsville about our campaign to Shut Rikers Down, provide different actions steps for folks to take and more!

These tragic deaths underscore how dangerous and deadly Rikers is for incarcerated people. People are not receiving adequate mental & physical health care, & the utter disregard and mismanagement of CO's is unconscionable. @mayor.nyc.gov must #ShutRikers & save lives. www.thecity.nyc/2026/05/06/r...

Check out our most recent bi-weekly New York Update. Here's what's included: ◾SCOC Info Session Recap ◾Mental Health and Rikers Island Info session at the Silberman School of Social Work. ◾May Statewide Criminal Justice Reform Call and more! katalcenter.org/2026/04/kata...

Today, we’re at John Jay for a “Harm Reduction After the War on Drugs: Reimagining New York’s Treatment System” event cohosted by the National Black Harm Reduction Network (NBHRN), Data Collaborative for Justice (DCJ), From Punishment to Public Health (P2PH), and Center for Justice Innovation.

We’re at Washington Sq Park with hundreds of organizations, unions & community members for May Day celebrating the bravery of workers throughout history who have sacrificed for safety, dignity and justice on the job. Workers have the power, not the billionaires! #MayDay #PeoplePower

Join us today at 4pm for the May Day Rally & March in Manhattan! If you’re in NYC, we hope to see you today as we join hundreds of organizations, unions & community members from across the city to commemorate International Workers Day. RSVP to join us: katal.info/mayday

Last night ,we joined @commonjustice.bsky.social for their Spring Social: Nothing Alone, Everything Together. At a time of uncertainty they created a space to gather around a vision of justice rooted in survivor-defined safety, meaningful accountability, and long-term pathways away from harm!

The mismanagement at Rikers has led to widespread abuse and violence against incarcerated people. This latest case highlights the unsafe conditions at Rikers Island & underscores why the @mayor.nyc.gov must get the closure plan back on track. #ShutRikers @gothamist.com gothamist.com/news/rikers-...

Our Immigrants New Yorkers should not be subjected to endless targeting and detention by ICE. #PassNY4ALL now.

Join us this Friday, May 1 at 4pm for a May Day Rally & March in Manhattan! #MayDay RSVP to join us: katal.info/mayday

After attending the monthly SCOC meeting, we headed over to the Capitol to meet with Senators to discuss the SCOC appointments. The commissioners must get confirmed by the Senate, so that means they have a vital role to play in ensuring reforms-oriented commissioners get appointed.

Today our members, interns, and staff attended the April monthly State Commission of Corrections (SCOC) Meeting. Yet again, the SCOC failed to address the crisis unfolding at jails & prisons across NY. @governor.ny.gov must appoint reform-oriented commissioners to overhaul the SCOC.

Last week, our policy associate, Ricky Forde, tabled at an organization fair at the College of Staten Island. He spoke with students about community organizing, our #ShutRikers, & ways students can join the fight. You can join us today in demanding @mayor.nyc.gov shut Rikers: katal.info/petition

While access to programming and recreation, including video games, is essential for incarcerated people, we know that the best solution to reducing violence is shutting down the dangerous & deadly Rikers Island Jail Complex once and for all. #ShutRikers www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/a...

Join us this Friday, May 1 at 4pm for a May Day Rally & March in Manhattan! This May Day focuses on the fight to stop the Trump administration and billionaires from threatening and targeting our immigrant communities & dismantling our fundamental rights. #MayDay RSVP to join us: katal.info/mayday

Communities all across the country are rising up to resist Trump's harmful deportation agenda. We stand with the folks in San Antonio who are taking to the street to stop ICE from building a warehouse in their community. #AbolishICE

Learn about the radical history of May Day, including how workers have organized for and won victories for themselves and their communities, and how we continue to mobilize today. Featuring Professor Donna Haverty-Stacke of @huntercollege.bsky.social.

New data highlights a systemic pattern of abuse by CO's increasing in the last decade. The SCOC, the state's oversight agency, has failed to stem this violence and hold CO's accountable. @governor.ny.gov must appoint reform-oriented commissioners to the SCOC. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...