By C1 Staff
NEW YORK – A new set of videos released by the New York Department of Corrections and Community Services is garnering both praise and criticism.
Vice reports that the videos openly acknowledge that sexual violence is an ongoing reality behind bars despite years of “professed ‘zero tolerance’ by the department.”
The videos utilize actual inmates throughout all of the videos.
Most of the criticism of the videos falls more on what’s missing: prisoner advocates have pointed out that the videos disregard sensitive topics that could reflect badly on the DOCCS. Only the women’s video acknowledges staff-on-inmate sexual violence.
Other criticisms are that the videos attempt only to change the culture of the inmates and not that of the department’s staff. They want DOCCS to hold itself accountable, mostly by installing more cameras and by consistently punishing staff who take advantage of inmates.
The president of the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association released this statement in response to the videos:
“It’s unfortunate that the video documentary, which obviously is intended as an educational piece for incoming female inmates, chooses to single out staff in conversations related to sexual assaults. The overwhelming majority of [correctional officers] perform their duties with professionalism and integrity while providing an environment that is conducive to the inmate’s rehabilitation. This is being accomplished as prison violence and the number of assaults on staff continue to rise to record levels.”
Watch the videos below: