THE ASSEMBLY on STATE OF NEWYORK “Stent Prcesa ALBANY COMMITTEES ‘cote steaea nironme Caeenaten Sem onowns “aon Panhard reac Aerty Sport Deretonet February 1, 2016 Honorable Anthony Anaucei Acting Commissioner NYS Dept of Comections & Community Supervision 1220 Washington Avenue, Bldg. 2 Albany, New York 12226-2050 Dear Commissioner Anaucci, We have visited the women's correctional facilities in our system on a number of occasions and have spoken to and received letters from many women prisoners, Over time, we have noticed that ‘women inmates a8 2 group face different problems than most male prisoners. For example, far ‘more women than men were primary caretakers of their children before coming incarcerated. Such ‘Women in prison are more likely to have been victims of domestic violence or sexual assault than ‘men, even if many of them do not qualify for admission to a specialized trauma program. In general, women have different psychological and behavioral norms that cause different programming needs, recreational needs and social needs than are found in the majority of men. Many women participate readily in available formal and informal support networks, thus reinforcing socil skills. Creating a supportive enviroment in the prison community may be especially important for women inmates because DOCCS staff have told us that they receive fewer visits than male prisoners. From what we have leamed in our tours, inmate organizations, volunteer programs and ialk therapy groups should be allowed to flourish in the women’s prisons, although we believe such organizations axe also important for men. Obviously; women have different personal hygiene needs than men. As one inmate at Bedford recently told us, women get five rolls of toilet paper per month, just like the men, but women use toilet paper every time they go to the bathroom. In order to get additional toilet paper tolls, the women must trade in their empty rolls for a new one, something that may not happen quickly if correctional officers are not readily available or responsive. A common complaint among female inmates is that they are only given 20 sanitary pads or tampons per mouth and must buy the rest from commissary since such items are not permitted to be purchased by their family members and sent to them, even if they come directly from an outside vendor. For some women with heavy menstrual periods, this is a real hardship. ‘Women in Albion have also been subject to an unusually restrictive footwear policy. Women, like ‘men, should clearly be pezmitted by statewide policy to purchase approved footwear from outside vendors and to wear State sneakers under the same ules as male prisoners. Additionally, many QDISTAICT OFFICE: 248 West 104% Steet, Now York, Nuw York 10025 » 212-868-5670, Fax: 212-884-1006, ALBANY OFFICE: Room £26, Leglstatva Otiee Bung, Abany, Now York 12048» §16-455-$609, Fax; S18455-9812 ‘E-mail Address: odonaelid @ assembly stale.ny.us-Permitted to do so. While we are glad that there is a unit for new mothers at Bedford, that the stronger anti-shackling pill has passed, and that there is now a presumption against placing pregnant women in special housing units, we believe that these issues related to pregnancy and childbinh ase the Parest Faumements for a female population. We aze writing you to ask you to create a directive specifically for women prisoners, taking into account all their different needs as a minority population within the Deparment. We envision that the directive would address strengthening tes to children and families, property and hygiene issues, and programmatic needs that predominate among the female inmate population. A directive concerning the special needs of women inmates is important since fuperintendents and other members of the leadership team, as well as security and program staff feequently transfer from men's facilites, spparently without any kind of special taining for working with a feruale inmate population, : Thank you for considering this sequest. We look forward to heating back from you on this ‘important issue. Very truly yours, ‘Very truly ours, Daniel ©’Donnell, Chair Nily Rozic, Assembly Member Assembly Standing Committee on Correction Assembly Standing Committee on Cotrection