Governor Kathy Hochul & Attorney General Letitia James,

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, write with urgency and deep concern regarding the ongoing human rights violations happening under the new Superintendent Deputy of Safety Michael Blot at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. 

Since November 2025, our loved ones at Bedford Hills have been denied indoor recreation time, religious and trans showers times, as well as individual shower times for trans and intersex people. These changes are inhumane and legally amount to torture. Blot continues to enforce these policies in violation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act and the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. Blot has a documented 25-year history of physical and sexual violence towards people incarcerated. What is happening at Bedford Hills is a continuation of his legacy of torture. The conditions inside Bedford Hills are so abhorrent and unlivable that a record number of deaths have been recorded this year at the facility.

In the last four weeks, three women have died—two allegedly having taken their own lives.

Our community inside is suffering and it must stop.

We ask for Governor Hochul & Attorney General James to order the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to:

1) Terminate the employment of Deputy Superintendent of Safety Michael Blot

2) Reinstate ALL trans, intersex, and religious shower times

3) Restore full and unrestricted shower access for all incarcerated people

4) Bring back all indoor recreation time as required by the HALT Act  

5) Allow an immediate, transparent, thorough, and independent investigation into all recent deaths

We call on you to act immediately to ensure the safety, dignity, and legal protections of all people incarcerated at Bedford Hills.

Sincerely,

F2L Network

Black Trans Mutual Aid

HoodSchool NYC

GLITS

Survived and Punished NYC

xCakes

[Original sign on letter was updated to reflect the current situation at Bedford Hills. Read original letter here]

[Learn more about the ongoing Human Rights Crisis at Bedford Hills by reading Trans Prisoners Allege Targeted Harassment by Supervisor at Nations Worse Ranked Facility​, New York Women’s Prison Forces People to Go Without Showers or Recreation​, Third Death in Four Weeks Rocks Bedford Hills Women’s Prison​, A New York Women’s Prison with a History of Violence Hired a High-Ranking Official Known for Abuse]