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Public Advocate Jumaane Williams discusses DOC issues and proposed legislation
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Public Advocate Jumaane Williams presents his testimony on various issues related to the Department of Correction (DOC) and proposed legislation. He discusses recent deaths in DOC custody, the need for transparency, sexual violence in jails, and the importance of opioid antagonist training for officers.
- Williams supports Intro 423, which establishes procedures for DOC, CHS, and BOC following in-custody deaths and requires notifications to relevant parties.
- He co-sponsors Intro 735, which requires DOC to report on incidents of physical violence and sexual harassment against staff and update policies accordingly.
- Williams also supports Intro 206, which mandates training for officers on the use of opioid antagonists and requires them to carry these medications while on duty.
Jumaane Williams
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Good morning.
0:49:21
My name is Jamani Williams.
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Public Avenue for City of New York.
0:49:24
Thank chair, a nurse, and members of the committee on criminal justice for holding his hearing.
0:49:30
Last month, Anthony Jordan became the 33rd person to die in DOC custody, Mister Jordan, who's reportedly found dead in his housing unit after being sent back there by a jail medical staff the day before.
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The news of his death came on the heels of the death of a Charisma Jones, a twenty three year old whose attorneys alleged that she was ignored by jail medical staff while experiencing a serious illness Each person lost as a tragedy and devastating for their loved ones and communities.
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We as a city have responsibility care for those in our custody.
0:49:57
And when a person dies or seriously injured, we have a duty to investigate the circumstances of the death of the injury and notify relevant agencies in the public.
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Despite this last year, DLC state they will no longer announce in custody deaths to the public.
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What happens behind the walls of the jails and right as Island should concern all New Yorkers and transparency is in even more crucial given this administration's efforts to jerk it.
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That is why I'm co sponsoring intro 423, which was introduced by a council member of Rivera and is being heard today.
0:50:25
This bill will establish procedures for DLC, CHS, and BOC following in custody death.
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And would require DOC to notify the office of chief medical examiner, deceased, defense attorney, DOC, and the public.
0:50:38
Further provisions of the bill would require DOC to provide updates on the status of any staff misconduct cases related to the circumstances that contributed to an individual's death.
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Report in compassion release on established jail death review board to examine systemic issues that contributed to death and custody.
Rajesh Mehra
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And I
Jumaane Williams
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have to say I don't believe we have to make a law to do something that should be done automatically just on any human level.
0:51:02
In March of this year, an analysis published by the documents found that of the 1256 lawsuits filed under the Adult SURVIVORS Act, 719 or almost 60% were filed against the New York City Department of Corrections.
0:51:15
Not only do the suits detail allegations, including harassment sexual assault and rape, but also the DLC knew about the abuse and failed to act, thereby intentionally encouraging the violence to continue.
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Sexual violence is not limited to the people incarcerated in Barack Obama for US offices primarily women officers, but men as well have reported they they they expanded they experienced high levels of sexual harassment and assault while at work.
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Earlier this year, New York 1 reported that data shows there have been at least 87 sexual assaults on officers or civilians in city jail since 2021.
0:51:46
No one should ever have to go to work, friend, that they may be attacked, or harassed, the cultural violence with impunity on rights violence making everyone as we continue to say on both sides of the bar's unsafe Coronated DOC does not publicly report data on sexual violence harassment against officers and other DOC and CHS staff.
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Consequently, today, we are also hearing a bill that I'm co sponsoring intro 735 introduced by a council member Stevens.
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This legislation would require DOC to report annually on alleged incidents of physical violence against and sexual harassment of DOC and CHS staff perpetrated by fellow staff members or by detained individuals that occurred in the previous year.
0:52:22
This bill also requires the DLC user data to update its policies addressing violent physical violence against and sexual harassment of staff.
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Crucially, this bill requires a commissioner to ensure the staff have access to mental health treatment resources and to publicize the availability of such resources to staff.
0:52:38
Finally, we're hearing intro 206 introduced by counsel Manif and correspondent by myself.
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This legislation required DOC to train officers on the property use of whiteboard, opioid, antagonistic, antagonistic, as well as incarcerated people who requested.
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Officers would need to carry opioid antagonists at all times while on duty and must administer it in accordance with the training to prevent more tragic death.
0:53:00
In October of 2022, Gilberto Garcia retired of an overdose on the vikas Allen and a lawsuit filed by his family against the city in August, Garcia's brother, Gilson, who was also incarcerated and fell next to his brother, alleged alleged that officers were the social elder respondent, Garcia's distress, that he administered NARCAN and superior himself even though he was not trained to use either.
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Drug use and overdoses in the jails have increased since January 2021.
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And ensuring that every officer is trained in overdose prevention is essential.
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Thank you.