Social Work Letter to Gov. Cuomo:
Grant Clemencies to Older New Yorkers in Prison Who Are Vulnerable to Coronavirus
** Sign on to the letter with the form at the bottom of the page **
Hon. Andrew Cuomo
Governor of New York State
NYS State Capitol Building
Albany, NY 12224
Cc:
Hon. Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Majority Leader, New York State Senate
188 State Street LOB - Room 907
Albany, NY 12247
Hon. Carl Heastie
Speaker, New York State Assembly
New York State Capitol Room 349
Albany, NY 12247
Dear Governor Andrew M. Cuomo,
In the wake of COVID-19, we write you as social workers, as mental health experts and practitioners, as researchers, as professors, and as advocates, to ask you to grant emergency clemencies to New Yorkers in prison who are older, sick, pregnant, have serious respiratory conditions, or who have otherwise compromised immune systems. COVID-19 continues to spread throughout New York State, and officially entered the state prison system on Tuesday, March 17 when staff at Sing Sing Correctional Facility tested positive for the virus. The continued spread of the virus will have devastating consequences for incarcerated New Yorkers, their families, prison staff, and entire communities throughout the state.
Over the years and decades we’ve worked in incarceration settings, we’ve seen the serious damage done to people in prison and jail by HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, MRSA, Tuberculosis, seasonal influenza, and other viruses and communicable diseases. Correctional settings were and continue to be hotbeds for the spread of these outbreaks. Whether it’s on prison cellblocks, in mess halls, program areas, or hallways, close contact among people in correctional settings is absolutely unavoidable and inevitably means the virus will be susceptible to serious spreading.
As in the outside world, we are particularly concerned about the health and well being of incarcerated older adults, people with serious chronic conditions, and others who are particularly vulnerable to the virus and its health consequences. There are currently more than 10,000 older New Yorkers in prison who will be significantly endangered once the virus enters the prisons, including people in hospice units and regional medical units. This population generally poses the least risk to public safety, including those convicted of violent crimes, is the most difficult to care for, and requires critical state resources while confined.
As a profession, we believe that every person is inherently sacred and has an inherent right to dignity, respect, self-determination and freedom to thrive. We fear for the many people inside New York State prisons who will be hardest hit by COVID-19 and who will be unable to access the conditions to prevent it’s spread, nor access the quality treatment needed to respond if infected.
We urge you to act before it’s too late on behalf of incarcerated people and their families by granting emergency clemencies to incarcerated older New Yorkers and others who are vulnerable to the virus. Doing so would save lives and resources that could be reinvested into necessary public health tools during this serious time. Thank you for considering our urgent request.
Sincerely,
Cameron Rasmussen, Columbia University School of Social Work
Dave George, Columbia University School of Social Work
Kassandra Frederique, Columbia University School of Social Work
Juli Kempner, Silberman School of Social Work,
Austin Oswald, Silberman School of Social Work
Laurie Storm, Columbia University
Anna Steffens, Silberman School of Social Work
Brian Romero, LMSW, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College
Caitlyn Passaretti, Columbia University School of Social Work
Melissa Tanis, Columbia University School of Social Work
Luke Patterson, Columbia University School of Social Work
Julia Shaw, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sandra, University of Maryland School of Social Work
Eleni Zimiles, Columbia University School of Social Work
Ovita Williams, Columbia University School of Social Work
K Agbebiyi, University of Michigan School of Social Work
Maya Edery, Silberman School of Social Work
Lara Tobin, Fordham University
Kim Konopka, Columbia University
Taylar Bolds, University of Memphis
Erin George, Columbia University School of Social Work
Haley Morrissette, University of West Florida
Lauren Bachman, Columbia University School of Social Work
Toni Ann Petovello, Silberman School of Social Work
Telva Rivera, Silberman School of Social Work
Jessica G Black, Columbia University School of Social Work
Brittany Larson, Columbia University School of Social Work
Shadia Marji, Silberman School of Social Work
Katherine Tineo-Komatsu, Columbia University School of Social Work
Imani Keith Henry ,MSW, MPA, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Paige Diner, LMSW, Columbia University School of Social Work
Tanya Krupat, University of Michigan School of Social Work
Cindy Bautista-Thomas, SUNY Albany School of Social Work
Seth Hoffman, Columbia University School of Social Work
Kelsey O'Neil, Columbia University School of Social Work
Meredith Kornfeind, Columbia University School of Social Work
Margaret Horwitz, Columbia University School of Social Work
Lauren Bailey, Ohio State School of Social Work
Ushadevi Ramjit, Silberman School of Social Work
Antwon Bailey, Columbia University School of Social Work
Tin Yan Yeung, Columbia University School of Social Work
Qin Sun, Columbia University School of Social Work
Shazzia Hines, SUNY Albany School of Social Work
Melanie Sage, Portland State School of Social Work
Daniella S Matthews-Trigg, Columbia University School of Social Work
Selina Fulford, Silberman School of Social Work
Courtney Cogburn, Columbia University School of Social Work
Blair Meyer, Fordham University School of Social Work
Hannah McCormick, Columbia University School of Social Work
Jasmeen Nijjar, Columbia University School of Social Work
Kayla Bennett, University of Chicago School of Social Work
Charlotte Wonnell, Columbia University School of Social Work
Jessica Warner, SUNY Albany School of Social Work
Keith Peterkin, Silberman School of Social Work
Mae Smith, Columbia University School of Social Work
Kayla Axelrod, Columbia University School of Social Work
Tracy Serdjenian, LMSW, Silberman School of Social Work
Piyali Kundu-Veldhoven, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sandra Bernabei, University of Maryland School of Social Work
Nick Encalada-Malinowski, Silberman School of Social Work
Luisa Lopez, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Laura Hoge, Rutgers School of Social Work
Christopher Scott, Portland School of Social Work
Brooke Feldman, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy
Emily Julia Weinrebe, Silberman School of Social Work
Jennie Encalada-Malinowski, Silberman School of Social Work
Benjamin R. Sher, Columbia University School of Social Work
Laura Smith, Yeshiva Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Colleen Samuels, Yeshiva Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Celina Trowell, Silberman School of Social Work
Kristen Valletta, Silberman School of Social Work
Julie Tellez, Silberman School of Social Work
Jennifer Hadlock, University of Connecticut School of Social Work
Edwin Mendez-Santiago, Silberman School of Social Work
Michelle Cameo, Silberman School of Social Work
Heather Day, Fordham University School of Social Work
Lorena Zavala, Columbia University School of Social Work
Elaine, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Anabel de Castro, Silberman School of Social Work
Nicole Rachlin, Fordham University School of Social Work
Emilio Tavarez, Lehman College School of Social Work
Fatima Mabrouk, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Francisco Rivera, Temple University School of Social Work
Alice Fisher, Silberman School of Social Work
Jamie Trachtenberg, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Elaine Daly, Fordham University School of Social Work
Michael Serrano, Silberman School of Social Work
Jessica Gorelick, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy
Cynthia Smart
Alicia Hoffman
Michael Dunn, University of Chicago School of Social Service
Sarah Whitman-Salkin, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Kris Kelsang Lipman, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Elizabeth L. Johnson, Silberman School of Social Work
Lisa Currie, Adelphi University School of Social Work
Steven Armijo, USC School of Social Work
Jessica Hall, Silberman School of Social Work
Chelsea Kraimer, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Rebecca Kucker, Silberman School of Social Work
Maria Laguna, Fordham University School of Social Work
Marjorie Isaacs, Columbia University School of Social Work
Nikisha Pearson, Touro College School of Social Work
Chyna Haywood, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Emma Evans, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Erin Mills, Columbia University School of Social Work
Aretha Clark, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Vanessa Cotton, Yeshiva Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Keona Serrano, Silberman School of Social Work
Amanda Babine, Columbia University School of Social Work
Brian Wheeler, George Mason University School of Social Work
Johnny Szeto, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sarah Hamza, Columbia University School of Social Work
Tracy Carter
Sally Weiler, University of Wisconsin School of Social Work
Philip Paul, Silberman School of Social Work
Hana Le, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sheila Vakharia, Binghamton University School of Social Work
Shreya Mandal, Smith College School of Social Work
Rachel Harlich, Silberman School of Social Work
Kathleen McKenna, Silberman School of Social Work
Rachel Hertzler, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Melanie Berkowitz, Silberman School of Social Work
Mikayla Carignan, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Avigail Hurvitz-Prinz, Smith College School of Social Work
Jordan Margolis, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Rebecca Hoffman, Silberman School of Social Work
Steven Armijo, USC School of Social Work
Emily Duran, SUNY Stony Brook School of Social Work
Alessandra Tantawi, Columbia University School of Social Work
Jennie Spector, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Michael Erwin, Widener University School of Social Work
Claudia Chika, Silberman School of Social Work
Hasan Ali, SUNY Stony Brook School of Social Work
Rachel Isreeli, Silberman School of Social Work
Martha Larson, Columbia University School of Social Work
Minette Cook Duran, Fordham University School of Social Work
Gabrielle Cuesta, Silberman School of Social Work
Esther Lee, Columbia University School of Social Work
Hayden Dawes, North Carolina State University School of Social Work
Lauren Clapp, Silberman School of Social Work
Asma Qaiyumi, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Usha Kaul, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Kristen Edwards, Bryn Mawr College School of Social Work and Social Research
Orianna Webb, Silberman School of Social Work
Josie Brown, Columbia University School of Social Work
Mariru Kojima, Columbia University School of Social Work
Edline Louis, Silberman School of Social Work
Lauren Sumida, Silberman School of Social Work
Wedad Muflahi, Columbia University School of Social Work
Jessica Jacob, Columbia University School of Social Work
Giulia Ferrero, Columbia University School of Social Work
Aysha Khawaja, Columbia University School of Social Work
Amber Eriksson, Columbia University School of Social Work
Ethan Sapienza, Columbia University School of Social Work
Arash Diba, Silberman School of Social Work
Ronin A. Davis, LMSW, Columbia University School of Social Work
Madeleine Epstein, Silberman School of Social Work
Isidora Finkelstein, Silberman School of Social Work
Emma Larson, Silberman School of Social Work
Abigail Todras, Silberman School of Social Work
Kate Johnson-Powers, Silberman School of Social Work
Martha Bragin, Silberman School of Social Work
Marguerita Johnson, Fordham University School of Social Work
Natasha Pasternack, Silberman School of Social Work
Jessica Gelfand, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Marian miller, Columbia University School of Social Work
Rebecca Kassabian, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Maritza Medina Olazaran, Columbia University School of Social Work
Jenny Crawford, Columbia University School of Social Work
Kim Nasatir, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sally Phillips, Columbia University School of Social Work
Erica Caparelli, Silberman School of Social Work
Susanna Eckblad, Wisconsin University School of Social Work
Allison Marino, Fordham University School of Social Work
Natalie Hession, Columbia University School of Social Work
Chelsea Davis, Columbia University School of Social Work
Phillip Marotta, Columbia University School of Social Work
Michael Swain, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sheila Louissaint, Columbia University School of Social Work
Amy Kerrigan, Columbia University School of Social Work
Brianna Suslovic, Smith College School of Social Work
Anthony Fine, Columbia University School of Social Work
Shanequa E Moore, Columbia University School of Social Work
Dara Pluchino, Columbia University School of Social Work
Gabriella Ansah, Silberman School of Social Work
Genesis Basso, Fordham University School of Social Work
Celestie Nguyen, Columbia University School of Social Work
Caitlin Cahill, CUNY Graduate Center
Laura Vest, Columbia University School of Social Work
Annie Benjamin, Columbia University School of Social Work
Danielle Weiss, SUNY Albany School of Social Work
Anya Bailey, Silberman School of Social Work
Genevieve Uslander, Silberman School of Social Work
Megan Campbell, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Nailah Gumbs, Fordham University School of Social Work
Jackie Cosse, Smith College School of Social Work
Lauren Kaczmarek, Silberman School of Social Work
Meghan Doherty, Smith College School of Social Work
Melanie Kern, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Hannah Fleckenstein, Boston College School of Social Work
Gemma Inguanta, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sonia Alexander, Silberman School of Social Work
Ameya Calvocoressi, Columbia University School of Social Work
Danielle Kowalski, Smith College School of Social Work
Maxine Getz, Silberman School of Social Work
Danielle Kowalski, Smith College School of Social Work
Elizabeth Lipton, Smith College School of Social Work
Yichu Xu, Columbia University School of Social Work
Tanya Thompson, Columbia University School of Social Work
Benjamin Beach, University of Washington School of Social Work
Saman Kamgar-Parsi, Columbia University School of Social Work
Rishika Singh, Columbia University School of Social Work
Vileti 'Akolo, Silberman School of Social Work
Justin Lioi, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Kwan Kim, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sara Eldridge, Silberman School of Social Work
Carlette Quintom, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Mandy Osborne, Columbia University School of Social Work
Lola Harney, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Nicole Lopez, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sabriya Dillard, Smith College School for Social Work
Timothy Bustle, Columbia University School of Social Work
Ashley Gwathney, Rutgets University School of Social Work
Eli Latto, Smith College School of Social Work
Weishin Huang, Columbia University School of Social Work
Erin Schick, Columbia University School of Social Work
Deborah Adewale, Columbia University School of Social Work
Selene Carrillo, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Helianis Quijada Salazar, Columbia University School of Social Work
Colette Faiella, Columbia University School of Social Work
Brooke Taylor, Columbia University School of Social Work
Natalie Hession, Columbia University School of Social Work
Cait Murray, Columbia University School of Social Work
Natalie Winicov, Columbia University School of Social Work
Maggie Clinton, Columbia University School of Social Work
Lieba Swartz-Brownstein, Silberman School of Social Work
Bridget Shanahan, Silberman School of Social Work
Rebecca Litwin, Silberman School of Social Work
G Serrano, Silberman School of Social Work
Lorena Mitchell, Columbia University School of Social Work
Elizabeth R DeWan, University of Chicago School of Social Work
Sydnee Corriders, Columbia University School of Social Work
Stefan Cocorelis, Columbia University School of Social Work
BoKyung Kim, Columbia University School of Social Work
Cynthia Magana, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Indira Martinez, Columbia University School of Social Work
Priya Sikerwar, Silberman School of Social Work
Alexandra Nobis, Columbia University School of Social Work
Clara Ceccanti, Columbia University School of Social Work
Erika L Miller-Bridges, Fordham University School of Social Work
Beck Liatt, Smith College School of Social Work
Elizabeth Beltran, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Amy Wald, Silberman School of Social Work
Ariana Wolk, NYU Silver School of Social Workl
Della Johnson, Silberman School of Social Work
Amee Catalano, Smith College School of Social Work
Katrina Puente, Smith College School of Social Work
Lucky Larrosam, Columbia University School of Social Work
Leah Minio, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Kelsey De Avila, Silberman School of Social Work
Meg Smithson, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Ariana Wolk, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Zoe Joly, Silberman School of Social Work
Simone Spirig, Silberman School of Social Work
Liz Afton, Silberman School of Social Work
Sophie Bell, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sophia Sarantakos, Tulane University School of Social Work
Yajaira Hernandez Trejo, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sara Plummer, Adelphi School of Social Work
Josh Garcia, Columbia University School of Social Work
William Frey, Columbia University School of Social Work
Krista Green, Columbia University School of Social Work
Sara Smith Sell, Silberman School of Social Work
Brittany Butler, Columbia University School of Social Work
Gretchen Begley, Silberman School of Social Work
Jessica Tepper, Smith College School of Social Work
Katherine L. Taylor, Columbia University School of Social Work
Ashley Lecaro, Columbia University School of Social Work
Carly Johnson, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Lorin Leake, Smith College School of Social Work
Angelica Cullo, Columbia University School of Social Work
Kelsey Reeder, Columbia University School of Social Work
Julie Burroughs Erdman, Stony Brook School of Social Welfare
Jill Kaplan, MFT, Santa Clara University