Today, the State Commission of Correction held their July Monthly Meeting. The public portion of the meeting lasted 2 minutes long and the agency failed to address the various crises unfolding in jails and prisons across New York. They failed to address or even mention the recent death at Rikers.

Over the weekend, Julian Pagan, 29, died in custody in the Bronx. Mr. Pagan is at least the fifth person to die in DOC custody since Zohran Mamdani became mayor in 2026. #ShutRikers Here is the statement we put out in response: katalcenter.org/2026/07/anot...

Since #MohamedBah was killed by NYPD, his mother devoted her life to ending police violence & supporting her community. A gift to #MohamedBah Legacy Project helps build bridges, create hope & carry forward the legacy of a son whose spirit continues to inspire change. Donate today: buff.ly/tH5pctU

Last week, @mayor.nyc.gov held a World Cup watch party inside Rikers Island. While the World Cup fervor has been felt across the city this month, it’s great to see the city taking steps to ensure the people incarcerated at Rikers get to experience it to. #ShutRikers www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news...

NYC Mayor Mamdani watches World Cup with Rikers Island inmates

More than 100 inmates at the sprawling Rikers Island correctional facility gathered in a gymnasium at the complex's main intake center to watch Wednesday's semifinal match between England and Argentina.

cbsnews.com

Good Trouble. Foley Sq. We gather with 3 demands: Protect immigrant New Yorkers. Defend the Black Vote. Free them all. Last night, Trump addressed the nation on "election integrity." We're responding tonight. * The air quality is on track to improve. Please make a safe choice for yourself.

Every part of Trump's detention and deportation machine poses a threat to our communities and our lives. Close the concentration camps. ICE out NOW.

Employee of Aurora ICE detention center arrested in protester’s shooting, police say

An employee of an immigrant detention center in Aurora has been arrested after reportedly shooting a protester outside the facility Thursday night.

denver7.com

Here’s an incomplete list of incidents demonstrating ICE and DHS deception. The lying has become routine.

ICE and DHS's growing record of deception

When their agents shoot and kill people, they shouldn't be allowed to run the investigation.

motherjones.com

We march in honor of: ▪️John Lewis, a monumental civil rights leader. ▪️Shakira, a Venezuelan trans woman currently detained by ICE in a men's prison. ▪️Eric Garner, whose life was taken by police violence. 🗓️Friday, July 17 ⏰ 5:30PM 📍Foley Square, NYC #GoodTroubleLivesOn

We're excited to share with you today a new report about our canvassing project here in NYC titled, “Three Years, Five Boroughs, 200,000 Doors: A Report on Katal’s #ShutRikers Canvassing Project, September 2022–December 2025.” See the full report here: katalcenter.org/wp-content/u...

Today, the Supreme Court ruled to protect birth right citizenship. We’re at Foley Square with @thenyic.bsky.social and @maketheroadny.bsky.social to celebrate this decision & to protect immigrant New Yorkers from the Trump administrations attacks on our communities. When we organize, we win!

Today, on Rikers, NIC, AMKC, and GMDC were closed and transferred from the DOC to DCAS. This is the first transfers from DOC to DCAS since 2021. This is good to see and now the city must pass a budget that reduces the jail population and advances closure. #ShutRikers www.amny.com/news/mamdani...

Mamdani transfers vacant Rikers Island facilities, restarting dormant piece of jail’s closure plan | amNewYork

It's the beginning of the end for Rikers Island.

amny.com

Today at 12pm, we’re rallying outside City Hall to demand: ❌ No new NYPD hires ❌ End broken windows policing & aggressive low-level enforcement ❌ End of homeless encampment sweeps ✅ Invest in real safety: housing, healthcare, preventative community-based care, & other social services. #CareNotCops

Today, we’re outside of City Hall with the Treatment Not Jails campaign calling for the immediate passage of the Treatment Court Expansion Act to expand mental health courts and reduce the jail population at Rikers. This is a critical component to shutting down Rikers. #ShutRikers

RELEASE: Yesterday, the State Commission of Correction (SCOC), New York’s jail and prison watchdog agency, held their June monthly meeting. Once again, the SCOC failed to address the multiple crises unfolding in local jails and state prisons. Here’s our release: katalcenter.org/2026/06/rele...

Today, we’re in Albany for the June Monthly Meeting of the State Commission of Correction, NY’s jail & prison watchdog agency. The agenda for today’s meeting fails to address the wide-ranging crises in jails and prisons, including incarcerated people being regularly denied medical treatment.

New OCA rule requires judges to visit a jail or prison annually to make sure they’re aware of the conditions behind bars. For too long, correctional facilities have been shrouded in secrecy and a lack of accountability. This is stepping the right direction to undo this. www.amny.com/new-york/new...

New rules will require New York family and criminal court judges visit jails to see the impact of their sentences | amNewYork

New York is now the first state in the nation to mandate annual visits by all trial court judges who make sentencing or detention decisions. The visits will

amny.com

The brutal murder of Messiah Nantwi last year highlights the dangerous and deadly conditions in NYS prisons. The SCOC, NY's jail & prison watchdog agency, has failed its oversight responsibility for decades, and incarcerated people have died as a result. spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...

4 former Mid-State correction officers sentenced in prison death case

Four additional correction officers were sentenced Wednesday morning in Oneida County Court in connection with the 2025 death of Messiah Nantwi.

spectrumlocalnews.com

Join us for today’s #NYCJReformCall at noon! We'll hear from: ◾Artie Malkin, Malkin & Ross ◾Serena Martin & Isabella Seda, New Hour for Women & Children ◾Tarini Garimella, Osborne Association ◾Kevin Valentine, Katal Center ◾Oded Oren, Scrutinize ◾Tricia Christensen RSVP: katal.info/newyork

WE DID IT. This afternoon the NY Senate confirmed Alexander Dockery, a formerly incarcerated person, as a Commissioner to the SCOC, NY’s jail & prison oversight agency. Our members & statewide coalition of 160+ groups fought hard for this win. See our press release: katalcenter.org/2026/06/rele...

Check out our most recent bi-weekly New York Update. Here's what's included: ◾Organizing to Implement Reforms to the State Commission of Correction ◾This week, Two Incarcerated People Die at Rikers in less than 24 Hours and more! katalcenter.org/2026/05/kata...

Katal New York Update - May 22, 2026 - Katal Center

In this issue: - Organizing to Implement Reforms to the State Commission of Correction - This week, Two Incarcerated People Die at Rikers in less than 24 Hours - SCOC Info Session in Syracuse with UnC...

katalcenter.org

RELEASE: Formerly incarcerated people & their families meet with @governor.ny.gov'a administration to demand she appoint reform-oriented commissioners, including a formerly incarcerated person, to the SCOC before the end of the legislative session on Thursday, June 4. katalcenter.org/2026/05/rele...

Our members and staff protesting outside of the SCOC office building in Albany demanding @governor.ny.gov swiftly appoint reform-oriented commissioners to the SCOC — including a formerly incarcerated person. “Gov.Hochul keep your word, appoint a reform-oriented commissioners to the SCOC now!”

The SCOC monthly meeting was canceled today, as @governor.ny.gov has not appointed new commissioners, leaving the SCOC without a quorum to meet. This is why we’re here outside of the SCOC office building demanding @governor.ny.gov to appoint a reform-oriented commissioners to the SCOC!

We’re fresh off the train getting ready for the day by making poster’s demanding @governor.ny.gov to appoint reform-oriented commissioners — one of whom must be formerly incarcerated — to the State Commission of Correction.

Yesterday, our member Ziyadah Amatul-Matin & our advocacy director @yonahzeitz.bsky.social joined the Capitol Pressroom to discuss the need to increase oversight by appointing reform-oriented commissions, including a formerly incarcerated person, to the SCOC. capitolpressroom.org/2026/05/26/p...

Prison oversight agency poised for new direction

The state Commission on Correction is supposed to get a shakeup of its leadership and mandate, but not much has happened yet.

capitolpressroom.org

On Sunday, our member Kevin Valentine & our advocacy director @yonahzeitz.bsky.social joined @spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social to call on @governor.ny.gov to appoint reform-oriented commissioners — one of whom must be formerly incarcerated — to the State Commission of Correction. ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...

Prisoner advocacy groups push for more funding

Watch the full interview here.

ny1.com

RELEASE: Last night, news broke that Umais Khan, 40-years-old, died while incarcerated at the Eric M. Taylor Center on Rikers Island. This is the second death of an incarcerated person at Rikers in less than 24 hours. #ShutRikers See our statement in response: katalcenter.org/2026/05/2nd-...

Join us and Unchained this Thursday, May 21st at 6pm in Syracuse for our info session on the SCOC. Here we will learn more about the State Commission on Corrections (SCOC), the reforms that were passed last year, the new online complaint portal and ways to join the fight.

"It is inconceivable and shortsighted to end the ability of CANY to increase transparency by visiting and interacting with incarcerated individuals and staff at state prisons” — joint statement from Katal & the Alliance of Rights & Recovery in response to CANY cuts. davisvanguard.org/2026/05/ny-p...

New York Prison Deaths Reach Six-Year High; State Oversight Funding Cut - Davis Vanguard

New York’s prison system faces escalating unrest and its highest death rates in six years, prompting renewed calls for Governor Kathy Hochul to fully fund and staff state prison oversight agencies. Th...

davisvanguard.org

Check out our most recent bi-weekly New York Update. Here's what's included: ◾Reforms to Expand the SCOC Taking Effect and the April Monthly Meeting ◾Monday’s Harm Reduction After the War on Drugs at John Jay College and more! katalcenter.org/2026/05/kata...

Katal New York Update - May 7, 2026 - Katal Center

In this issue: - April SCOC Meeting & Upcoming Effective Date - Recap of Harm Reduction After the War on Drugs: Reimagining New York’s Treatment System. - Tabling Across Brooklyn - May Statewide Crimi...

katalcenter.org