REFORM. ADVOCACY GROUP. THE SENTENCING PROJECT JOINING ME NOW
SENTENCING PROJECT JOINING ME NOW IS
NOW IS ONLY A ME
IS ONLY A ME LAUREN. SHE‘S A PUBLIC
ONLY A ME LAUREN. SHE‘S A PUBLIC DEFENDER WITH THE LEGAL AID
LAUREN. SHE‘S A PUBLIC DEFENDER WITH THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY, THE NATION‘S OLDEST
DEFENDER WITH THE LEGAL AID SOCIETY, THE NATION‘S OLDEST AND LARGEST
SOCIETY, THE NATION‘S OLDEST AND LARGEST FIRM FOR
AND LARGEST FIRM FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
FIRM FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND FOLLOWING
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND FOLLOWING MR. YOUNG BLOODS DEATH IN
AND INDIVIDUALS AND FOLLOWING MR. YOUNG BLOODS DEATH IN RIKERS ISLAND,
MR. YOUNG BLOODS DEATH IN RIKERS ISLAND, CORRECTION
RIKERS ISLAND, CORRECTION FACILITY. COMMISSIONER, LOUIS
CORRECTION FACILITY. COMMISSIONER, LOUIS MOLINA RELEASED A STATEMENT
FACILITY. COMMISSIONER, LOUIS MOLINA RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING WE WILL WORK
MOLINA RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING WE WILL WORK AGGRESSIVELY TO DETERMINE THE
SAYING WE WILL WORK AGGRESSIVELY TO DETERMINE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING MR.
AGGRESSIVELY TO DETERMINE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING MR. YOUNG BLOODS, JEFF, MY DEEPEST
CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING MR. YOUNG BLOODS, JEFF, MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO
YOUNG BLOODS, JEFF, MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO HIS LOVED ONES. I MEAN,
SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO HIS LOVED ONES. I MEAN, HELP US
HIS LOVED ONES. I MEAN, HELP US UNDERSTAND
HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE OF RIKER‘S ISLAND. THE PEOPLE
WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE OF RIKER‘S ISLAND. THE PEOPLE AT RIKERS
OF RIKER‘S ISLAND. THE PEOPLE AT RIKERS HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY
AT RIKERS HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME.
HAVE NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF ANY CRIME. WHY? WHY ARE THEY STILL?
CRIME. WHY? WHY ARE THEY STILL? THERE. WHY CAN‘T WE GET THEM
WHY? WHY ARE THEY STILL? THERE. WHY CAN‘T WE GET THEM OUT OF THESE HORRIFIC
THERE. WHY CAN‘T WE GET THEM OUT OF THESE HORRIFIC CONDITIONS?
OUT OF THESE HORRIFIC CONDITIONS? BECAUSE THEY PLACED THE
CONDITIONS? BECAUSE THEY PLACED THE PLACED A PRICE TAG ON THEIR
BECAUSE THEY PLACED THE PLACED A PRICE TAG ON THEIR FREEDOM. THAT‘S THAT‘S THE
PLACED A PRICE TAG ON THEIR FREEDOM. THAT‘S THAT‘S THE PROBLEM WITH CASH BAIL AND
FREEDOM. THAT‘S THAT‘S THE PROBLEM WITH CASH BAIL AND THESE PRETRIAL, DETENTION
PROBLEM WITH CASH BAIL AND THESE PRETRIAL, DETENTION CENTERS, RIKERS IS INFAMOUS,
THESE PRETRIAL, DETENTION CENTERS, RIKERS IS INFAMOUS, AND I THINK RIKERS INFAMY IS
CENTERS, RIKERS IS INFAMOUS, AND I THINK RIKERS INFAMY IS LED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT
AND I THINK RIKERS INFAMY IS LED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT IT‘S THIS PLACE FOR ESPECIALLY
LED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT IT‘S THIS PLACE FOR ESPECIALLY HORRIBLE, OFFENDERS OR
IT‘S THIS PLACE FOR ESPECIALLY HORRIBLE, OFFENDERS OR CRIMINALS.
HORRIBLE, OFFENDERS OR CRIMINALS. RIKERS IS A PRE-TRIAL
CRIMINALS. RIKERS IS A PRE-TRIAL DETENTION CENTER WHERE ANYBODY
RIKERS IS A PRE-TRIAL DETENTION CENTER WHERE ANYBODY IN NEW YORK CITY THAT‘S
DETENTION CENTER WHERE ANYBODY IN NEW YORK CITY THAT‘S ARRESTED AND CANNOT AFFORD
IN NEW YORK CITY THAT‘S ARRESTED AND CANNOT AFFORD BAIL. THAT‘S WHERE THEY GO,
ARRESTED AND CANNOT AFFORD BAIL. THAT‘S WHERE THEY GO, AND THEY‘RE THERE INDEFINITELY
BAIL. THAT‘S WHERE THEY GO, AND THEY‘RE THERE INDEFINITELY UNTIL THEY GET A TRIAL, WHICH
AND THEY‘RE THERE INDEFINITELY UNTIL THEY GET A TRIAL, WHICH SOMETIMES TAKES YEARS,
UNTIL THEY GET A TRIAL, WHICH SOMETIMES TAKES YEARS, ESPECIALLY
SOMETIMES TAKES YEARS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF THEM.
ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF THEM. DYNAMIC, WHICH IS SLOW DOWN,
IN THE CASE OF THEM. DYNAMIC, WHICH IS SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN,
DYNAMIC, WHICH IS SLOW DOWN, SLOW DOWN, TRIALS, AND OTHER CRIMINAL
SLOW DOWN, TRIALS, AND OTHER CRIMINAL SYSTEM IS OPERATING. BUT
TRIALS, AND OTHER CRIMINAL SYSTEM IS OPERATING. BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN
SYSTEM IS OPERATING. BUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN PARTICULAR IN THE LAST
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN PARTICULAR IN THE LAST YEAR‘S 15 PEOPLE DIED.
PARTICULAR IN THE LAST YEAR‘S 15 PEOPLE DIED. 15. DIFFERENT PEOPLE DIED IN
YEAR‘S 15 PEOPLE DIED. 15. DIFFERENT PEOPLE DIED IN RIKERS, AND IF YOU‘VE SEEN THE
15. DIFFERENT PEOPLE DIED IN RIKERS, AND IF YOU‘VE SEEN THE PHOTOS, THEY HAVE PEOPLE
RIKERS, AND IF YOU‘VE SEEN THE PHOTOS, THEY HAVE PEOPLE PACKED IN CELLS. 30 40, 50
PHOTOS, THEY HAVE PEOPLE PACKED IN CELLS. 30 40, 50 PEOPLE IN ONE CELL. PEOPLE
PACKED IN CELLS. 30 40, 50 PEOPLE IN ONE CELL. PEOPLE NOT GETTING MEDICAL ATTENTION
PEOPLE IN ONE CELL. PEOPLE NOT GETTING MEDICAL ATTENTION AND NEGLECT. AND IT‘S NOT JUST
NOT GETTING MEDICAL ATTENTION AND NEGLECT. AND IT‘S NOT JUST A MATTER OF THE OFFICERS
AND NEGLECT. AND IT‘S NOT JUST A MATTER OF THE OFFICERS ARE OUT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE
A MATTER OF THE OFFICERS ARE OUT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CLEAR RIKERS HAS MORE
ARE OUT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CLEAR RIKERS HAS MORE MORE PEOPLE IN CORRECTIONS
CLEAR RIKERS HAS MORE MORE PEOPLE IN CORRECTIONS THAN MOST POLICE, DEPARTMENTS
MORE PEOPLE IN CORRECTIONS THAN MOST POLICE, DEPARTMENTS AND MOST DIFFERENT JAILS IN
THAN MOST POLICE, DEPARTMENTS AND MOST DIFFERENT JAILS IN THIS COUNTRY. AND STILL
AND MOST DIFFERENT JAILS IN THIS COUNTRY. AND STILL IT‘S NOT
THIS COUNTRY. AND STILL IT‘S NOT JUST AT THE THE
IT‘S NOT JUST AT THE THE JUST AREN‘T SHOWING UP. IT
JUST AT THE THE JUST AREN‘T SHOWING UP. IT SAID, THEY‘RE CHOOSING TO NOT
JUST AREN‘T SHOWING UP. IT SAID, THEY‘RE CHOOSING TO NOT BEING NEGLECTFUL.
SAID, THEY‘RE CHOOSING TO NOT BEING NEGLECTFUL. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OF THE
BEING NEGLECTFUL. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPTHS OF THE PEOPLE
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OF THE DIFFERENT DEPTHS OF THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THEIR CELLS
DIFFERENT DEPTHS OF THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THEIR CELLS WHERE THEY SEE OFFICERS
HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THEIR CELLS WHERE THEY SEE OFFICERS DIFFERENT CORRECTIONS
WHERE THEY SEE OFFICERS DIFFERENT CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, AND PASSED THEM
DIFFERENT CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, AND PASSED THEM REPEATEDLY IN ROUNDS. IN JUST
OFFICERS, AND PASSED THEM REPEATEDLY IN ROUNDS. IN JUST CHOSEN NOT TO GIVE THEM THE
REPEATEDLY IN ROUNDS. IN JUST CHOSEN NOT TO GIVE THEM THE HELP TODAY AT THE RYKORS
CHOSEN NOT TO GIVE THEM THE HELP TODAY AT THE RYKORS RALLY. WE HEARD FROM THE 12TH
HELP TODAY AT THE RYKORS RALLY. WE HEARD FROM THE 12TH PERSON
RALLY. WE HEARD FROM THE 12TH PERSON THAT DIED IN
PERSON THAT DIED IN HIS LAST YEAR, HIS MOTHER, AND
THAT DIED IN HIS LAST YEAR, HIS MOTHER, AND SHE SAID THAT HER SON ASKED
HIS LAST YEAR, HIS MOTHER, AND SHE SAID THAT HER SON ASKED FOR MEDICAL HELP REPEATEDLY.
SHE SAID THAT HER SON ASKED FOR MEDICAL HELP REPEATEDLY. HE TOLD HIS GIRLFRIEND. HE
FOR MEDICAL HELP REPEATEDLY. HE TOLD HIS GIRLFRIEND. HE WAS SICK. AND HE SAID, AND
HE TOLD HIS GIRLFRIEND. HE WAS SICK. AND HE SAID, AND WHEN SHE TOLD HIM TO REPORTED,
WAS SICK. AND HE SAID, AND WHEN SHE TOLD HIM TO REPORTED, HE SAID, THEY JUST SAY
WHEN SHE TOLD HIM TO REPORTED, HE SAID, THEY JUST SAY YOU‘RE LYING. THEY SAY, YOU‘RE
HE SAID, THEY JUST SAY YOU‘RE LYING. THEY SAY, YOU‘RE MAKING IT UP AND THEY CHOOSE
YOU‘RE LYING. THEY SAY, YOU‘RE MAKING IT UP AND THEY CHOOSE TO NEGLECT THEM. SO, THIS IS A
MAKING IT UP AND THEY CHOOSE TO NEGLECT THEM. SO, THIS IS A WILLFUL, A WILLFUL PROBLEM
TO NEGLECT THEM. SO, THIS IS A WILLFUL, A WILLFUL PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PERSISTENT, AND
WILLFUL, A WILLFUL PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PERSISTENT, AND IT‘S NOT NEW. IT‘S BEEN AROUND
THAT HAS BEEN PERSISTENT, AND IT‘S NOT NEW. IT‘S BEEN AROUND SINCE RIKERS INCEPTION. IT‘S
IT‘S NOT NEW. IT‘S BEEN AROUND SINCE RIKERS INCEPTION. IT‘S JUST SOMETHING WE‘RE HEARING
SINCE RIKERS INCEPTION. IT‘S JUST SOMETHING WE‘RE HEARING MORE ABOUT BECAUSE THESE DEBTS
JUST SOMETHING WE‘RE HEARING MORE ABOUT BECAUSE THESE DEBTS ARE PILING UP WITH COVID AND
MORE ABOUT BECAUSE THESE DEBTS ARE PILING UP WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING
ARE PILING UP WITH COVID AND EVERYTHING HAPPENING.
EVERYTHING HAPPENING. I DON‘T THINK PEOPLE REALLY
HAPPENING. I DON‘T THINK PEOPLE REALLY TRULY PROCESS UNTIL
I DON‘T THINK PEOPLE REALLY TRULY PROCESS UNTIL YOUR MAY BE IN THE SITUATION
TRULY PROCESS UNTIL YOUR MAY BE IN THE SITUATION IN YOUR OWN LIFE OR YOU KNOW,
YOUR MAY BE IN THE SITUATION IN YOUR OWN LIFE OR YOU KNOW, SOMEONE
IN YOUR OWN LIFE OR YOU KNOW, SOMEONE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHEN
SOMEONE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHEN WHEN YOU BECOME DEHUMANIZED IN
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU WHEN WHEN YOU BECOME DEHUMANIZED IN THIS WAY. AND I MEAN,
WHEN YOU BECOME DEHUMANIZED IN THIS WAY. AND I MEAN, ONCE YOU ENTER RIKERS ISLAND,
THIS WAY. AND I MEAN, ONCE YOU ENTER RIKERS ISLAND, THEY GIVE YOU A NUMBER, RIGHT?
ONCE YOU ENTER RIKERS ISLAND, THEY GIVE YOU A NUMBER, RIGHT? YOU BECOME AN
THEY GIVE YOU A NUMBER, RIGHT? YOU BECOME AN INNATE AND THEN BASICALLY
YOU BECOME AN INNATE AND THEN BASICALLY NO ONE BELIEVES ANYTHING YOU
INNATE AND THEN BASICALLY NO ONE BELIEVES ANYTHING YOU EVER SAY. YOU COULD SAY
NO ONE BELIEVES ANYTHING YOU EVER SAY. YOU COULD SAY MY BLACK IS BROKEN. IT COULD
EVER SAY. YOU COULD SAY MY BLACK IS BROKEN. IT COULD BE STICKING OUT. THE BONE
MY BLACK IS BROKEN. IT COULD BE STICKING OUT. THE BONE COULD BE STICKING OUT AND
BE STICKING OUT. THE BONE COULD BE STICKING OUT AND OBVIOUS, BUT YOU ARE AN INMATE
COULD BE STICKING OUT AND OBVIOUS, BUT YOU ARE AN INMATE AND THEREFORE
OBVIOUS, BUT YOU ARE AN INMATE AND THEREFORE BY DEFAULT EVERYTHING YOU SAY
AND THEREFORE BY DEFAULT EVERYTHING YOU SAY IS THOUGHT OF AS A LIVE FROM,
BY DEFAULT EVERYTHING YOU SAY IS THOUGHT OF AS A LIVE FROM, FROM THOSE CORRECTIONS
IS THOUGHT OF AS A LIVE FROM, FROM THOSE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. I MEAN, WHERE THE
FROM THOSE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. I MEAN, WHERE THE EFFORTS YOU ATTENDED A RALLY
OFFICERS. I MEAN, WHERE THE EFFORTS YOU ATTENDED A RALLY TODAY
EFFORTS YOU ATTENDED A RALLY TODAY TO ENSURE
TODAY TO ENSURE THAT
TO ENSURE THAT BREAKERS IS ACTUALLY CLOSE. I
THAT BREAKERS IS ACTUALLY CLOSE. I MEAN, I REMEMBER
BREAKERS IS ACTUALLY CLOSE. I MEAN, I REMEMBER BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THEY PASS
MEAN, I REMEMBER BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THEY PASS FUNDING TO CLOSE IT. WHY IS IT
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THEY PASS FUNDING TO CLOSE IT. WHY IS IT STILL OPEN?
FUNDING TO CLOSE IT. WHY IS IT STILL OPEN? THEY GIVE
STILL OPEN? THEY GIVE 860 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO
THEY GIVE 860 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO RIKERS.
860 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO RIKERS. THEY‘VE THE CLOTHES RIKERS.
RIKERS. THEY‘VE THE CLOTHES RIKERS. CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GOING ON,
THEY‘VE THE CLOTHES RIKERS. CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GOING ON, BUT WE HAVEN‘T SEEN, NO REAL
CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN GOING ON, BUT WE HAVEN‘T SEEN, NO REAL SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES OR A STEPS
BUT WE HAVEN‘T SEEN, NO REAL SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES OR A STEPS TOWARDS IT AND IT‘S BECAUSE
SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES OR A STEPS TOWARDS IT AND IT‘S BECAUSE THEY‘RE CHOOSING THEY CHOOSE
TOWARDS IT AND IT‘S BECAUSE THEY‘RE CHOOSING THEY CHOOSE TO HAVE IT OPEN JUDGES
THEY‘RE CHOOSING THEY CHOOSE TO HAVE IT OPEN JUDGES DESPITE THAT THEY‘VE DECLARED
TO HAVE IT OPEN JUDGES DESPITE THAT THEY‘VE DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO
DESPITE THAT THEY‘VE DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT‘S
A STATE OF EMERGENCY TO DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT‘S BEING CALLED A HUMANITARIAN
DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT‘S BEING CALLED A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT
BEING CALLED A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY KEEP OFFERING US THOUGHTS
CRISIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY KEEP OFFERING US THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR ALL OF THE
THEY KEEP OFFERING US THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING AND
AND PRAYERS FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING AND PROMISING. IT‘LL BE DIFFERENT
PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING AND PROMISING. IT‘LL BE DIFFERENT JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS
PROMISING. IT‘LL BE DIFFERENT JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS EVERYDAY, OR CONTINUING THE
JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS EVERYDAY, OR CONTINUING THE SEND PEOPLE TO RIKERS. YOU
EVERYDAY, OR CONTINUING THE SEND PEOPLE TO RIKERS. YOU KEEP SEEING ATTEMPTS TO ROLL
SEND PEOPLE TO RIKERS. YOU KEEP SEEING ATTEMPTS TO ROLL BACK BAIL REFORM,
REMEMBER. THIS IS NOT AN
REMEMBER. THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT THIS
REMEMBER. THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT THIS ANOMALY. THIS ISN‘T A TRAGIC
ACCIDENT. THIS IS NOT THIS ANOMALY. THIS ISN‘T A TRAGIC EVENT SO MUCH IS THIS THE
ANOMALY. THIS ISN‘T A TRAGIC EVENT SO MUCH IS THIS THE CULMINATION OF DELIBERATE
EVENT SO MUCH IS THIS THE CULMINATION OF DELIBERATE STEPS TAKEN BY THE PEOPLE AT
CULMINATION OF DELIBERATE STEPS TAKEN BY THE PEOPLE AT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE POWER
STEPS TAKEN BY THE PEOPLE AT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE IT?
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE IT? I GUESS THE THEME OF TONIGHT‘S
TO CHANGE IT? I GUESS THE THEME OF TONIGHT‘S SHOW IS EVERYONE IS JUST
I GUESS THE THEME OF TONIGHT‘S SHOW IS EVERYONE IS JUST PEOPLE,
SHOW IS EVERYONE IS JUST PEOPLE, I DON‘T CARE
PEOPLE, I DON‘T CARE WHERE YOU ARE, WHETHER YOU‘RE
I DON‘T CARE WHERE YOU ARE, WHETHER YOU‘RE INCARCERATED, WHETHER YOU‘RE
WHERE YOU ARE, WHETHER YOU‘RE INCARCERATED, WHETHER YOU‘RE NOT INCARCERATED,
INCARCERATED, WHETHER YOU‘RE NOT INCARCERATED, WHETHER YOU ARE WITHOUT A
NOT INCARCERATED, WHETHER YOU ARE WITHOUT A HOME,
WHETHER YOU ARE WITHOUT A HOME, TEMPORARILY YOU ARE PERSON
HOME, TEMPORARILY YOU ARE PERSON ONLY YUMMY. THANK YOU SO MUCH
TEMPORARILY YOU ARE PERSON ONLY YUMMY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT, AND