TESTIMONY
Tiffany Sloan from From Punishment to Public Health at John Jay College on Transforming Public Safety through Public Health Initiatives
5:53:34
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165 sec
Tiffany Sloan advocates for transforming the public health and public safety infrastructure through the From Punishment to Public Health initiative.
- Sloan emphasizes the need to shift focus from punitive measures to the health and well-being of communities, particularly in African American communities.
- She advocates for providing access to housing, employment, and healthcare to lower criminal justice system involvement and incarceration rates.
- Sloan highlights the decrease in violent crime by 14% and stresses the importance of not returning to punitive methods.
- The testimony underscores the role of the city's budget in supporting vulnerable communities and poses critical questions about future priorities.
- She mentions the work of the Cross Sector Advocacy Group in convening stakeholders from various sectors to focus on public health solutions.
Tiffany Sloan
5:53:34
Hello.
5:53:35
Thank you for the opportunity to testify for the first time today.
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My name is Tiffany Sloan, and I am from the from punishment to public health initiative at John J College.
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P2PH works to transform the infrastructure of public health and public safety.
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We do this by convening stakeholders across the system of care drawing on their expertise to build and scale equitable solutions grounded in the health and well-being of families and communities.
5:53:59
Throughout my journey in the city, I've witnessed the advantages of public health oriented initiatives.
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Conversely, I observed the detrimental impact of over policing and mass incarceration, particularly within African American communities.
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This city is more dynamic than any other place in the world.
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I myself moved to the city to continue my education.
5:54:18
Despite the advantages of the city, many New Yorkers are still struggling to get back on their feet after the COVID shutdowns, and it's important that we continue to support the most vulnerable members of our community.
5:54:28
A lot of New Yorkers are under understandably concerned about the spikes in crime during the COVID years, but it's important to recognize that 2023 was not 2021.
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Violent crime is down 14%.
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To effectively to effectively decrease involvement in the criminal justice system and subsequently lower Mass incarceration rate Mass incarceration rates in the city individuals must have access to fundamental necessities such as housing, employment, and health care.
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These needs must be addressed as a priority regardless of any prior involvement in the criminal justice system.
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When this body voted to close records by by 2027, it acknowledged that the status quo of mass incarceration and surveillance has failed to protect marginalized communities from the root causes of violence.
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This year's budget is a chance to renew that commitment to families and communities most impacted by poverty, violence, and housing, and security.
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This budget debate is a clear message to our neighbors in need.
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Do we need access Do we expand access to drug treatment and harm reduction services, or do we revert back to trying to punish our way out of addiction?
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A strategy we know results in stark racial inequality.
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Do we invest in community mental health resources or more involuntary commitments to locked hospital wings and rows of cages on Rutgers Island.
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Do we increase the number of pre trial programs and alternatives to incarceration programs or do we continue to increase jails and prison populations and facilities that are not properly taken care of?
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At P2PH, we are lucky to be surrounded by organizations advocates that work directly at the heart of these issues.
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Our Cross Sector Advocacy Group convenes stakeholders from mental health, housing, stubbens, substances, and criminal justice reform to focus on areas where public health solutions can play a leading role in creating more equitable and dynamic communities.
5:56:11
I thank you again for the opportunity to speak with you today, and we look forward to sharing additional resources for your consideration in our billing test about me.