PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Chaplain Dr. Victoria Phillips, Founder/CEO of Visionary V, on Sexual Assault in NYC Jails
4:09:23
·
3 min
Chaplain Dr. Victoria Phillips, Founder/CEO of Visionary V, testified about the ongoing issues of sexual assault in NYC jails, particularly at Rikers Island. She criticized the lack of concrete answers from officials and highlighted the need for more accountability and resources to address the problem.
- Emphasized the need for more cameras at Rikers Island, despite progress made since 2012
- Pointed out discrepancies in DOC's claims about investigation timelines and case management
- Shared personal experiences of threats and inadequate responses to sexual assault allegations, even for corrections officers
Chaplain Dr. Victoria Phillips
4:09:23
Peace and blessings, everyone.
4:09:25
Can you hear me?
4:09:26
First, I just wanna acknowledge chair, council member standing nurse.
4:09:31
Thank you so much, and all other council members.
4:09:33
You gotta give respect what respect is due.
4:09:36
Peace and blessings, everyone, all cheers and council members, and chapman, Doctor.
4:09:39
Dutoria Phillips, aka doctor V.
4:09:41
Today, I'm speaking from several volunteer and contractor positions.
4:09:45
Today, there was over a $1,000,000 in salaries at this very table, yet very few answers.
4:09:51
Various levels were axed under one topic, yet few answers.
4:09:55
So I'm just gonna adjust a few things.
4:09:57
Blind spots.
4:09:58
I've been acting and actually speaking and advocating about this since 2012.
4:10:02
Myself and others have fought and have gotten over 14 thousand cameras on White House Island, but it's not enough.
4:10:08
I will say this commissioner has been controlling the gels often and even has leadership doing so.
4:10:16
Still, unfortunately, it's not enough to shift to old school gelling, actual lawlessness that occurs, nor the inhumane culture.
4:10:23
So let's be clear.
4:10:24
One of the 4 women going to Rosie is already being a survival of sexual soul.
4:10:28
When we speak of trauma, who are we incarcerating?
4:10:32
I testified before this committee when council member Powell was shared and asked for an increase in DOE, and asked for an increase in offices because they were working 24 hours around the clock back then, and I actually increase in funding for programming.
4:10:47
In the past, DOE has actually been guilty of holding up cases until someone has moved, been transferred, or released.
4:10:54
Quite frankly, they themselves meet their own level of accountability.
4:10:57
Today, the commissioner mentioned 19 investigators have 25 cases equally.
4:11:02
That adds up to 475, but over 700 cases still need to be need to be investigated.
4:11:08
The commissioner says she needs at least 14 more.
4:11:10
So at 25 cases that'll be about, they could cover 350 cases.
4:11:14
That will cover the 700 backlog and leave space to investigate cases in real time.
4:11:19
Let's give it to them so we can truly hold them accountable.
4:11:23
Accountability must begin to be real.
4:11:26
When DLC says they respond in 2012 to 24 hours after an allegation has occurred, that's a lie.
4:11:33
I know for a fact, this year alone, I know for a fact this year alone, DOC Union has referred an officer to me after being sexually assaulted in a facility caught on tape.
4:11:48
The officer suspended but not because of the allegation.
4:11:51
He was suspended because he was caught drinking on duty.
4:11:55
The investigators didn't even respond to that officer.
4:11:58
And so after 20 days, and that was when I reached out to head leadership.
4:12:02
At DLC to see what was going on.
4:12:04
I'm saying that because of that, this was happening to an officer.
4:12:07
What's happening to a detaining?
4:12:09
And when we talk about accountability this year along, I, myself, was threatened by an officer at DLC after testifying in the same room.
4:12:18
And I'm saying here because the chair of the border corrections oversight actually told me he saw what happened that the president of the union would have to take in that officer.
4:12:27
I had to testify in there wasn't four more times on the record and do my own due diligence to make sure that officer no longer can threaten me or anybody else.
4:12:36
But, again, what happens behind the walls when someone puts a grievance in?
4:12:41
If my grievance is disrespected and ignored on the outside, what is happening to those who need us to do our jobs and speak for them.
4:12:49
And when we talk about accountability, it has to be something that is real because everybody's not as strong as me and even as strong ones need support and backup.
4:12:58
I didn't have nobody standing up for me, but my god, my and my ancestors, and I was able to fight for myself.
4:13:04
But when I leave people behind the walls who cry and beg me for help, and I can't save them, I'm asking you to try and join this fight to save them peace and blessings.
