Correctional Association of New York
CANY
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
CANY provides independent oversight of prisons in New York State to promote transparency and accountability; safeguard the human and civil rights of incarcerated people; identify and provoke a response to harmful practices and policies; promulgate information that supports reform, and advocate for the decreased use of incarceration in New York.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Oversight of New York State Prisons
Our goal is to use our unique access to promote true transparency and accountability. We create a platform for those most affected to directly share their experiences; we document and disseminate information about system trends; and we advocate for reform at individual prisons and at the system level.
There are nearly 50,000 people incarcerated in 54 prisons across New York State. To provide effective oversight of this large and complex system, we track key issues of concern and analyze trends through onsite prison monitoring visits, intensive data collection, and communication with people in prison. We work through coalitions and with other advocacy partners to advance an array of proposed solutions, from draft legislation to recommended practice shifts in specific facilities.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of reports published
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Oversight of New York State Prisons
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Founded in 1844 by concerned citizens of the state and deputized by the state to provide monitoring and oversight of the state’s prisons in 1846, CANY is one of the first organizations in the country prescribed to administer civilian oversight of prisons.
CANY’s ability to monitor state prisons was consolidated into state law in 2022 with legislation codifying CANY’s authority to visit, access, inspect and report on the state’s prisons. Under this law, CANY is permitted to visit any state prison with 72-hour notice to the State Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS), communicate confidentially with incarcerated individuals and prison staff, operate a phone hotline for the reporting of prison conditions by incarcerated individuals, offer surveys to incarcerated people and staff, and disseminate reports and recommendations to the state’s executive, legislature, DOCCS, and the public at large.
Since its inception, CANY’s reporting has been integral in movements to end corporal punishment in state prisons, suspend the use of mandatory sentencing laws in New York, and abolish the death penalty in the state. Furthermore, the organization’s advocacy has helped support improved access to medical and mental health care in prisons, improved quality of care for people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis-C, and other infectious diseases, and most recently, the limitation of the use of solitary confinement in New York.
Our goal is to use our unique access to promote true transparency and accountability. We create a platform for those most affected to share their experiences directly; we document and disseminate information about system trends; and we advocate for reform at individual prisons and at the system level.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
CANY adopted a new strategic plan in January 2023, which will
guide our work throughout the coming three-year period. Our
plan is anchored in the following goals:
AMPLIFY and scale monitoring to leverage
the full extent of CANY’s legislative authority
and access to prisons
BUILD internal data capacity to increase
transparency and strengthen CANY’s
monitoring and oversight
STRENGTHEN oversight and apply
greater pressure upon the state to
implement recommendations
ELEVATE CANY’s positioning to promote
the value of oversight with target audiences
FOSTER partnerships with state officials
and other key stakeholders to build a
collaborative practice for system change
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Correctional Association of New York
Board of directorsas of 11/27/2023
Rev. Stephen Phelps
Richard Foudy
Stephen Phelps
Martha King
Kenneth Henderson
William Snipes
Wesley Caines
Michelle Daniel
Arti Finn
Jay Wardle
Jessica Charles
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data