REMARKS
Council Member Farah Louis introduces bill to improve reporting on sexual abuse in correctional facilities
0:53:27
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Council Member Farah Louis introduces Intro 1061, a bill aimed at improving the Department of Corrections' reporting on allegations of sexual harassment and abuse in correctional facilities. She highlights the systemic issues of sexual abuse at Rikers Island and the need for greater transparency in reporting.
- Over 700 incarcerated women have filed lawsuits against the city this year under the Adult Survivors Act.
- The bill requires unique identifiers for each incident and victim, clearer reporting, and justifications for cases not referred to district attorneys.
- The current reports lack transparency and fail to provide clear information about allegations and investigations.
Farah Louis
0:53:27
Thank you, majority leader.
0:53:29
Imagine arriving at Ryker's Island for routine intake, trying to navigate an unfamiliar system.
0:53:35
You wouldn't think that being deceived, Horacio sexually assaulted is part of the protocol.
0:53:40
Now imagine hundreds of inmates who have experienced violence with no recourse or recognition from the government subjected to horrific abuses of power with no clear path to justice.
0:53:51
With over 700 incarcerated women with lawsuits against the city this year, for rampant sexual abuse by the Department of Corrections staff under the Adult SURVIVORS Act.
0:54:01
We know these alarming claims are not isolated incidents.
0:54:05
They are systemic failures that have plagued Parkers Island for decades.
0:54:09
Gel wardens, and even medical staff are now known predators through groping, forcible touching, and other forms of sexual violence.
0:54:18
This is why today I'm introducing intro 1061 aiming to rectify critical gaps in the Department of Corrections reporting on allegations of sexual harassment and abuse.
0:54:28
This bill will require the department to assign unique identifiers for each incident and victim, clarify their reporting, and provide justifications on subjugated cases are not referred to district attorneys, and audit by the city council's data team revealed that the current reports mandated by local law 21 of 2019, lack transparency, use undefined terms and fail to provide clear information about allegations and investigations, putting vulnerable individuals, particularly women and LGBTQ plus inmates in custody at Saviras for unreported violence.
0:55:05
I urge my colleagues to sign on to this critical bill, and I wanna thank Speaker Adams for prior for prioritizing this bill, and I will commitment to justice.
0:55:12
Thank you.
