TESTIMONY
Daniele Gerard, Senior Attorney at Children's Rights, on Necessity of Closing Rikers Island and Funding Alternatives to Incarceration
6:11:26
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176 sec
Daniele Gerard discusses the urgent need for closing Rikers Island by 2027 and reallocating funds towards alternatives to incarceration and re-entry services.
- Gerard highlights the excessive funding and dangerous conditions at Rikers Island, especially for young adults.
- Criticizes Mayor Adams' proposed budget cuts, which threaten the closure of Rikers by reducing funds for essential re-entry and alternative programs.
- Points to evidence showing better outcomes for youth with alternatives to incarceration compared to confinement.
- Urges the council to reallocate funds towards supportive housing, community mental health services, and ensure the Board of Correction is adequately funded.
- Advocates for a budget that supports all New Yorkers, including those incarcerated at Rikers Island.
Daniele Gerard
6:11:26
Thank you, chair nurse, council member, Brewer, who I know was just there and committee members.
6:11:31
Children's rights is a national advocate it for youth in state systems.
6:11:34
My name is Danielle Girard, and I'm a senior attorney here.
6:11:38
We are also a member of the New York City jail's action coalition.
6:11:41
We advocate on behalf of young adults on Rykers.
6:11:44
As you have heard repeatedly today, New York City operates both the most overstaffed and excessively funded jail system in the country Despite the enormous sums poured into the system, countless resports show that incarcerated persons are subjected to some of the most dangerous degrading and inhumane conditions in the country.
6:12:04
We need look no further than the Nunez monitor's regular reports, and the February 28 report filed in Benjamin Vimalina detailing vermin infestation and sanitary violations on Rikers.
6:12:17
Serving time on Rikers can also be a death sentence.
6:12:20
Since mayor Adams took office 30 incarcerated people have lost their lives there.
6:12:25
Rikers must close by 2027 in accordance with the law.
6:12:29
Yet mayor Adam's proposed budget will undoubtedly reduce the chances of this happening by cutting funds for alternatives to incarceration, and reentry services and failing to adequately fund community resources such as supportive housing and community based mental health treatment.
6:12:45
The proposed cuts high along to the recent elimination of $17,000,000 for programming and social service provision in the city's jails.
6:12:54
The cuts that the administration is proposing will uniquely impact young adults incarcerated on Rykers.
6:13:00
Evidence shows that incarceration reduces youth's success in education and employment, and also leads to lasting damage to young people's health and well-being Evidence also shows that alternatives to incarceration lead to equal or better outcomes for youth and adolescents, all while costing far less than incarceration.
6:13:20
Reducing funding for alternatives to confinement and reentry services makes no sense morally, ethically, or fiscally.
6:13:28
Negotiating changes to the mayor's proposed budget provides an opportunity to move the city in the right direction, all while rightsizing the expenditure of taxpayer dollars.
6:13:38
Instead of allocating $2,600,000,000 to the Department of Correction.
6:13:43
We urge the council to provide sufficient funding for alternatives to incarceration, supervised release, and reentry programs, supportive and affordable housing, and community mental health services.
6:13:55
We urge the council to fund the board of correction adequately so it can provide meaningful oversight of the abomination that is Rikers.
6:14:03
We look to you and Speaker Adams to negotiate a fair, just, and reasonable budget that serves all new Yorkers, including young adults, and everyone else incarcerated on Rykers.
6:14:16
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
6:14:18
I refer you to our written testimony for further detail.
