Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
AGENCY TESTIMONY
Dr. Lauren Stossel's testimony for appointment to NYC Board of Corrections
0:04:46
ยท
3 min
Dr. Lauren Stossel, a forensic and clinical psychiatrist, provides testimony for her consideration for appointment to the New York City Board of Correction. She outlines her extensive experience in correctional mental health care, including her work at Rikers Island, and expresses her commitment to accountability and reform in the NYC jail system.
- Dr. Stossel has over a decade of experience working with mentally ill individuals in the NYC legal system, including six years with Correctional Health Services in various roles.
- She highlights her firsthand experience with the challenges at Rikers Island, including the COVID-19 pandemic, increased in-custody deaths, and staffing shortages.
- Dr. Stossel emphasizes the importance of the Board of Correction's oversight role and her potential to contribute insights based on her clinical experience and understanding of on-the-ground realities.
Dr. Lauren Stossel
0:04:46
Good morning council members.
0:04:47
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.
0:04:50
My name is Lauren Stossel.
0:04:52
I'm a forensic and clinical psychiatrist.
0:04:54
I am honored to be considered for appointment to the New York City Board of Correction.
0:04:59
I spent much of the last decade caring for mentally ill individuals working their way through New York City's complex legal system.
0:05:06
In 2015, I was the first psychiatric resident to complete an elective rotation with Correctional Health Services, the agency that provides health care to detainees in the New York City jail system.
0:05:16
I spent much of my final year of residency providing care, providing medication management and psychotherapy to individuals with serious mental illness on one of Rikers Island's First specialty mental health units.
0:05:28
I went on to complete a forensic psychiatry fellowship at NYU where I learned about the core issues at the interface between mental health treatment and the criminal legal system in New York City.
0:05:38
After completing my fellowship I joined CHS as a supervising psychiatrist on CAPS, a specialized housing unit for individuals with serious mental illness who commit violent infractions in the jail setting.
0:05:50
For the next six years I worked for CHS in a variety of capacities including as a senior psychiatrist in general population clinics and specialty therapeutic housing units providing psychiatric care and supervising other providers.
0:06:03
As director of psychiatric education developing a training program for psychiatric prescribers from a variety of disciplines, as medical director for mental health overseeing the prescriber service, and most recently as chief of mental health overseeing the provision of mental health care throughout the jail system and working with CHS and DOC leadership and oversight stakeholders to advance care standards.
0:06:26
I worked at Rikers through some of the most turbulent years in its recent history during which we managed the COVID pandemic, a sharp rise in in custody deaths, including suicides and overdoses, and critical staffing shortages in custody and health services.
0:06:40
In my clinical work, I provided direct psychiatric care to patients managing complex trauma, severe mental illness, and the psychological effects of confinement all while navigating an incredibly complex maze of legal variables between arrest and adjudication.
0:06:54
As an administrator, I worked to implement structural changes aimed at improving access to care, strengthening suicide prevention protocols, and promoting interagency coordination.
0:07:05
I have witnessed firsthand the violence and despair that catalyzed the closed Rikers movement.
0:07:10
I have also witnessed the ways that effective, strong, and competent leadership and thoughtful data driven policy and practice can improve health outcomes and promote dignity in an extremely difficult place.
0:07:21
I have seen the enormous impact changes in policy have for those who live and work on Rikers Island.
0:07:26
As such, I cannot imagine a more serious responsibility than that of the Board of Correction.
0:07:31
Their independent comprehensive oversight and ability to ensure thorough transparency and accountability are essential in safeguarding the human rights of individuals in custody.
0:07:40
As a member of the board my clinical experience and awareness of the realities on the ground would afford me a rare degree of insight in interpreting data, reviewing conditions, and making recommendations for change.
0:07:51
I am deeply committed to accountability and reform in the New York City jail system and to the health safety and dignity of my former patients and colleagues.
0:08:00
I'm honored and grateful for the trust you have placed in me and considering me for this position and I look forward to taking your questions.