ALBANY – Disability Rights New York, the group established as the designated federal Protection and Advocacy System for individuals with disabilities in New York State, has found fault with the Correctional Alternatives Rehabilitation Unit at Sullivan Correctional Facility. That unit was created by the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and begun at Sullivan in May 2014.
The report found abuse and neglect and makes recommendations to the state prison system.
Among the findings of the Sullivan prison program were the use of inconsistent
and poorly defined procedures; lack of access to mental health services,
failure to identify eligible participants; failure to properly use crisis
intervention; and excessive use of force on inmates with disabilities.
Disability Rights New York called on the state prison system to implement the changes needed to ensure that people with disabilities receive treatment appropriate to their diagnoses.
“People with disabilities are still not receiving the rehabilitation and care they need, and more must be done to make CAR (the Correctional Alternatives Rehabilitation Unit) an appropriate and safe environment,” said group Executive Director Timothy Clune.
