How You Can Change Jails in Western New York

The last few months in the Empire State have been filled with a lot of activity in crime prevention, law enforcement, and corrections policy.

At the end of last year, several corrections officers at a New York State prison are alleged to have brutally beat and killed an inmate, all of which was caught on prison video and body cameras. A few weeks after ten of the 16 prison officials who were involved in the beating, an uprising at a Western New York prison led to the lockdown of prisons across the state, and then thousands of prison guards went on an illegal strike.

If that wasn't enough, a few more prisoners died while prison guards refused to return to work, forcing the New York National Guard to have to be called in to take over.

With all of the drama surrounding corrections over the last few months, there have been many calls for reforms to our jails and prisons in the Empire State. Hearing those calls, the Erie County Legislature is looking for ways to involve the community in making changes to the corrections system in 716.

Erie County Wants Your Help To Reform Local Jails

Earlier this year, Erie County Legislator Taisha St. Jean Tard filed a resolution to dissolve and reform the Erie County Corrections Specialty Advisory Board, along with appointing a new slate of members to the citizen-led committee that offers oversight of the jails in Erie County.

According to the County's website, the Erie County Corrections Specialist Advisory Board gives advice, counsel, and oversight to the Sheriff's Jail Management Division, the department in the Erie County Sheriff's office that runs the Erie County Holding Center in downtown Buffalo and the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden.

The committee is looking for new members to ensure that the jails are run fairly and appropriately according to our desires as citizens.

This board was established to provide meaningful oversight and drive improvements at the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility. Its mission is to bring together community leaders and professionals to monitor conditions, enhance rehabilitation efforts, reduce recidivism, and support reentry initiatives.
-Erie County Legislature

If you want to improve the way the jails are run in Western New York, you can apply to be appointed to the board.

You can find more information about the Erie County Corrections Specialist Advisory Board here, and apply for appointment to the board here.