Persons Present: Rev. Bob Lamar, Rev. Wendy Van Orden, Rev. Senley Jack,
Anne Marfey, Lou Ismay, Rosalind Burbank, Bernie Fleishman, Nicholas Fuller, Jean
Cowan, Rev. Joyce Hartwell, Ed Bloch, Gene Rowland, Shirley Drake Byers,
Florence Skiff.
The meeting was called to order by Bernie Fleishman. Invocation was given by Rev. Senley Jack.
Treasurers Report: The final payment from the grant was received. The bank balance as of July 22 was $6297.56.
The Minutes of June 9th meeting were approved. The Agenda was approved with two additions.
Committee Reports: There were no reports from the Electoral Reform Committee and the Violence Committee. Rev. Hartwell reported for ARISE and the Criminal Justice Committee. They have decided that the most important issue is the mandated sentencing and the effects thereof on incarcerated people, and their families, and also the effect on the community as a whole because of the financial drain which takes away from other needs. It is very difficult to get ex-offenders back into the community, employed, and away from drugs and gangs. Senley Jack said he is working with judges on alternate sentencing such as community service.
Bernie Fleishman introduced our speaker for the morning, Mr. William Mango, Assistant commissioner for Program Services, NYS Department of Corrections. He told us that prosion is not conducive to mental health. It is a violent atmosphere, with gang activity. 90% of the offenders are minorities. They have been taken away from hope, family, and belongings. When they are locked up they realize the importance of family and try to maintain contact. there are 67,000 inmates in NYS, 75-80% are from NYC. 4000 are women. Nation wide, 600,000 will be realeased from prison this year.
When they enter, they are told about programs etc. and their personal documents are put in order. Then they are given guidance on how to get along, control their anger. 60 days before release they are told about bank accounts, community services, agencies, and parole.
Corrections counselors have a case load of 150, so only see individuals once every 3 months. They work in goup settings as much as possible. There have been some successful programs for rehab but these have been eliminated because of fiscal restraints.
There is a need to deal with the problems but the economics and plitics are complex. Different groups fight over Federal aid.
Most prisoners are men. When released they go back to a home that has been run without them.. There is family stress. substance abuse temptation is still present. They need housing and a job immediately in order to survive. Most assistance programs have a 30-45 day wait. The need for help is far beyond what is available. 11% need mental health services. New facilities have automatic door locks which require less human contact. Confinement is very dehumanizing.
The parole officer is a social worker and law officer. 3000 inmates per year are releassed without parole, having served the maximum sentence. These are the ones who acted up and were trouble makers. They have no parole officer. No one wants to deal with the tough cases because funding is based on success record. Mr Mango had a 3 year grant for a program where releasees were introduced to community people before release. It helps if they know where to turn for assistance. He would like to see further development of this approach of working with community people.
Mr. Mango agreed to stay a short time after the meeting for further questions.
Executive Committee Report
Rev. Lamar had copies of the brochure for the event 10/13 "Cultivating a Culture of Peace". This brochure has been mailed out to our mailing list. Educational Equity: The law suit was successful and the state has one year to develop a plan to achieve Educational Equity.
Amicus Curiae Brief about Alleged Misuse of Medicaid Funds. The charge brought by the AFL-CIO is that money for Medicaid Funds is being used to defeat unions. The Executive Committee of TIANYS was asked to sign on to this Amicus Brief and voted to do so at the July 21 meeting. It could not have been delayed until today because the deadline was before today's meeting. Members present today expressed approval of the action.
Request from the National TIA to endorse Federal "Hate Crimes" Legislation. Alice Green, who is against the legislation will come to the executive comittee meeting Aug. 18. She could not come today. Motion was made by Rev. Lamar to authorize the executive committee to decide this issue after hearing her perspective. Motion was passed. Anyone interested was inviteed to come to the meeting.
Gene Rowland reported that a debate is planned for Thursday November 6 in cooperation with the Niebuhr Institute, on "The Pentagon's New Map". Ed Bloch reported that the Albany Common Council passed a resolution denouncing the "Patriot Act". A local civil liberties rights group gave Helen DeFosses and the Common Council an award for taking this action.
Motion by Joe Seeman, seconded by Lou Ismay, that the executive committee endorse the "Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride," a march to Washington that will be in this area Sept. 30. Motion Passed. This is about a "new road map to citizenship", reuniting families separated by problems with the current Immigration laws.
Andreas Kriefall, staff organizer of ARISE, told us how ARISE is increasingly becoming involved with similar groups on regional and state-wide issues. They hope to organize meetings with legislators and candidates to focus attention on social needs.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30.
Respectfully submitted,
Florence Skiff
E-mail The Interfaith Alliance of NYS
(via [email protected])