Correctional Association NY Data Exposes Need for Transparency

by | Mar 17, 2025 | Blogs, Communities & Focus Areas, Criminal Justice, Director's Blog, Economic and Human Rights

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* 
 
March 17, 2025 
 
 
Sunshine Week: CANY Data Update Exposes Need for Transparency 
 
Visualized Data Shows Sharp Increase in Prison Deaths, Changes in Population Under Custody 
 
New York, NY – In observance of Sunshine Week, a national initiative dedicated to the principles of open government and public access to information, the Correctional Association of New York (CANY) today announced an update to its public dashboard of New York State prison data, providing the latest available information on key indicators including the incarcerated population and deaths in custody. The updated dashboard includes data on the incarcerated population and deaths in prisons through March 1, 2025. 
 
For lasting transparency within New York State prisons, CANY supports legislation that would require consistent access to prison data: A3781 – Weprin / S 651 – Salazar, which would require the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to provide CANY with basic access to administrative records and A1010A – Epstein / S 5680 – Salazar, which would require public notices for deaths in custody. These measures are crucial for enhancing oversight and ensuring system-wide transparency. 
 
Main takeaways from the data update include: 
 
  • An increase in the number of incarcerated individuals under custody from 32,538 incarcerated individuals in March 2024 to 33,079 in March 2025, representing an increase of 2% in the incarcerated population. 
  • An increase in the number of deaths in custody and the highest number of in-custody deaths in the past five years. There were 143 reported deaths in 2024 compared to 107 reported in 2023, a 34% year over year increase. 
  • An increase in the proportion of deaths in custody of incarcerated individuals under the age of 40, with 30% (43 incarcerated individuals) of deaths in custody in 2024 of individuals under the age of 40, compared to 17% (18 incarcerated individuals in 2023), an increase of 139%. 
“It is becoming clearer with each passing day that increased transparency and accountability within the state’s prisons are critical ingredients for restoring public trust, treating incarcerated individuals with respect, and providing safe working environments for public servants,” said Jennifer Scaife, Executive Director the Correctional Association of New York (CANY).  
View CANY’s updated dashboards at correctionalassociation.org/data. 
About CANY 
 
The Correctional Association of New York (CANY) is an independent, non-profit organization with a legislative mandate to monitor and report on the conditions in New York State prisons. CANY was founded in 1844 and deputized by the state to provide monitoring and oversight of the state’s prisons in 1846, making it one of the first organizations in the country to administer civilian oversight of prisons. CANY conducts monitoring visits, publishes reports, and advocates for policy changes to improve conditions in New York State prisons.