For too long, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) in New York State has been a source of systemic failure, affecting not only the incarcerated individuals and their families but also the corrections personnel who work within it. Recent investigations, including the tragic and preventable deaths of Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility and Messiah Nantwi at Mid-State Correctional Facility, highlight a pervasive culture of corruption and violence that continues to destroy lives daily.

This petition calls for the complete abolition of DOCCS and the establishment of a new, modernized agency: New York State Correctional Services (NY-CS), built from the ground up. This new agency must embody a vision of rehabilitation over punishment and provide genuine safety and transformation for all involved—whether they are inmates, families, or staff members.

To enact this transformation, we propose the establishment of a Transformation Authority to oversee the transition. It is crucial to replace the harmful 'Correction Officer' role with 'Rehabilitation Officers' to mirror the shift toward supportive rehabilitation and away from traditional, punitive models. This change is not only a matter of semantics but represents a necessary paradigm shift that centers human dignity and effective rehabilitation.

Concrete steps must be taken to create a humane system focused on real safety and meaningful rehabilitation. We recommend significant investments in training for rehabilitation officers, improved mental health services, and the development of educational and vocational programs that aid in genuine reform and provide inmates with a real chance at successful reintegration into society.

This is not just about reform—it's about creating a world-class correctional system that New York can be proud of, where the emphasis is on healing, growth, and community safety through rehabilitation. By abolishing DOCCS and embracing a fully reconstructed system with these principles at its core, we can ensure that no more lives are senselessly lost due to systemic neglect and abuse.

We urge policy-makers, community leaders, and concerned citizens to act now. Sign this petition to demand the transformation New York needs and champion a fair and humane correctional system that reflects our values of justice and human rights.