PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anna Kull, Attorney at Levy Konigsberg, on Sexual Abuse in NYC Jails
3:40:48
·
6 min
Anna Kull, an attorney representing sexual abuse survivors, testified about the ongoing issue of sexual abuse within New York City prisons, particularly at the Rose M. Singer Center on Rikers Island. She highlighted the systemic nature of the problem, the recent lawsuits filed under the Adult Survivors Act, and the Department of Corrections' failure to adequately address the situation.
- Over 700 cases were filed under the Adult Survivors Act alleging sexual violence at Rikers spanning four decades.
- Kull emphasized the Department of Corrections' delayed action in addressing allegations, even after being notified of lawsuits.
- She urged the council to press for comprehensive oversight, policy changes, and deeper investigation into what she called a "rogue organization".
Anna Kull
3:40:48
Chair nurse, members of the council.
3:40:51
My name is Anna Cole, and I'm an attorney for the sexual abuse survivors.
3:40:55
Some of whom you've heard from today.
3:40:58
Thank you for the opportunity to testify regarding the ongoing issue of sexual abuse within New York City prisons, particularly at the Rose M Singer Center on Ryker's Island.
3:41:12
The abuse of incarcerated women has been perpetrated at Rykers by correctional officers with impunity for decades.
3:41:21
Regrettably, the topic of staff on inmate sexual violence at Rykers is far from new.
3:41:28
Indeed, this council has convened here on this topic and discussed proposed reforms and accountability measures in response to ongoing issues of sexual violence at this facility many times before.
3:41:45
This council has long heard about the horrors on Rikers Island.
3:41:51
These horrors have been brought to light through journalistic investigations, organizations, survivors through testimony and public advocates who have all urged the New York City Department of Corrections to eliminate sexual abuse at Rosies.
3:42:08
For decades, the endemic of sexual violence at Rosies has been well documented and well known.
3:42:16
On November 23, 2023, the new the New York Adult SURVIVORS Act opened a 1 year window permitting sexual abuse survivors to file claims and seek legal redress against institutions and their abusers no matter when those claims arose.
3:42:32
Over 700 cases were filed under this act alleging sexual violence at at Rykers.
3:42:40
These cases have shed light on the rampant sexual violence faced by women that has spanned for 4 decades.
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I represent over 200 of these survivors.
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And these women are the victims that this council has been asked to protect.
3:43:00
These are the victims that the Department of Corrections had a duty to fact.
3:43:07
These cases have brought forward chilling accounts of abuse by correctional officers.
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Individuals who were entrusted with the care and safety of those in their custody, but instead in exploited their power to commit unspeakable acts of sexual violence.
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Survivors today have courageously shared their stories.
3:43:33
And if you were listening, they have revealed patterns of coercion, corruption, violence, and intimidation over 4 decades.
3:43:48
What is even more troubling is that many of the officers implicated in these sex crimes in the cases that have been filed have continued to remain employed by the New York City Department of Corrections even after the lawsuits were filed.
3:44:06
And it was not until the cases attracted media scrutiny and public outcry that did the Department of Corrections take any meaningful steps to address the allegations including suspending or removing these officers.
3:44:22
And despite what was said here today, there has been ample notice of these lawsuits.
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In fact, I personally provided it.
3:44:32
I provided it to the law department, and I provided it through cooperation with the media to spread awareness of this ongoing horrific problem.
3:44:45
This delay in action resulted in 1 alleged accuser excuse me, abuser in being arrested for raping a woman while off duty in Queens in April of this year.
3:45:00
That rape could have been prevented if the Department of Corrections took the necessary steps after being put on notice of the allegations that my clients have personally made in these complaints.
3:45:15
This delay in action sends a very distressing message that the safety of incarcerated women is secondary to preserving institutional reputation.
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And we cannot tolerate that.
3:45:33
The sheer volume of cases and the subsequent inaction by the Department of Corrections points to a systemic issue that extends beyond a few bad actors.
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And it extends beyond those who we have identified in our cases.
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It demonstrates a deeply rooted culture within the Department of Corrections that has failed to hold perpetrators accountable, allowing abuse to persist in a system where power dynamics are already putting survivors at a severe disadvantage.
3:46:04
The culture of impunity must end the woman who have suffered while in custody.
3:46:10
Deserve justice, accountability, and meaningful reform.
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This council has a critical role to play in ensuring that all who are in department of corrections custody, including the most vulnerable, are treated with dignity and respect.
3:46:26
Survivors of this abuse must be compensated not only for the legacy of trauma they have endured but for the failure of the system to protect them.
3:46:37
I urge this council to press for comprehensive oversight and policy changes, I urge the department of investigations to launch a deeper investigation into what can only be considered a rogue organization
Sandy Nurse
3:46:55
Thank you.
3:46:55
Can you please wrap your testimony?
Anna Kull
3:46:57
I am.
3:46:58
Thank you.
3:47:01
I'll just end with, as an attorney, representing sex abuse survivors by the thousands.
3:47:10
Systemic sexual violence does not exist without institutional tolerance, and that's what we need to combat.
3:47:22
Thank you.
