Are you on Twitter?  Follow us @DroptheRock to help spread the word about our campaign!

Register now for Drop the Rock Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 16, 2010.  On this day hundreds of New Yorkers will unite in Albany to call for criminal justice reforms including prison closures, full repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, and reinvestment in our communities.

Buses to Albany will leave from locations in New York City including downtown Brooklyn and Harlem.  Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided to all participants.

If your organization is interested in participating, contact Caitlin Dunklee, Drop the Rock Coordinator at 212-254-5700 or cdunklee@correctionalassociation.org.

Statewide Campaign Promotes Prison Closures and Community Reinvestment

NEW YORK – On Saturday, December 19, in neighborhoods across the city and state that are heavily impacted by incarceration, teams of community members, young people, formerly incarcerated people, and families will come together to educate the public about Drop the Rock’s campaign to reduce the use of incarceration in New York. Volunteers will register voters and gather signatures on Drop the Rock’s new petition calling for prison closures, reforms of work release, parole, and merit time, full repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, and reinvestment in communities. 

Read more…

Earlier this year, New York State voted to reform the notorious Rockefeller drug laws after years of advocacy on the part of families, formerly incarcerated individuals, and community organizations.  While we continue to call for full repeals of the laws, Drop the Rock has embarked on a new campaign to reduce New York State’s use of prisons, and we are looking for support from your organization, church group, business, or school club.

To sign on to our coalition’s expanded platform, contact Caitlin Dunklee directly at 212-254-5700 x 339 or cdunklee@correctionalassociation.org.

On Saturday, December 19 from 11am-3pm, in neighborhoods across the city and state, teams of volunteers will go out into their communities to educate the public about Drop the Rock’s campaign to reduce incarceration in New York.
Teams will register voters and gather signatures on Drop the Rock’s new petition calling for prison closures, reforms of policies like work release, parole, and merit time, full repeal of the Rockefeller Drug Laws, and reinvestment in communities.  Volunteers will be petitioning in supermarkets, public housing lobbies, and street corners.

Download this flyer to spread the word about Empowerment Day in your community.

Help us kick off our new campaign in your neighborhood!  To get involved please contact Caitlin Dunklee directly at 212-254-5700 x 339 or cdunklee@correctionalassociation.org.

Read more…

Today’s Newsday featured an Op-Ed penned by Bob Gangi, Executive Director of the Correctional Association.  It is a great introduction to our coalition’s new expanded platform.

Ease state budget woes by closing more prisons
November 13, 2009 By ROBERT GANGI 

Gov. David A. Paterson has proposed severe spending reductions to close New York’s projected $3 billion deficit for this fiscal year. Aid for public schools, Medicaid and other health and mental health programs, libraries, summer special education programs, and HIV-AIDS services are poised to take big hits.

Another place in the state’s budget is primed for cutting: prisons.

Read more…

Drop the Rock is launching an Audio Documentary project to highlight the experiences which people have had with the Rockefeller Drug Laws.  We are currently holding interviews with people who are serving time under the laws in state prison, and people who are awaiting sentencing for felony drug charges at Rikers.  If you are interested in sharing your story, please contact Caitlin Dunklee at cdunklee@correctionalassociation.org, or 212-254-5700 x 339 or Sam Roberts at samuel.k.roberts@gmail.com.

Here is a flyer that you can share to help spread the word about the project: Audio Documentary Flyer

We are gearing up to start advocating for our expanded criminal justice reform platform aimed at reducing incarceration and prison capacity in New York. A strong and meaningful name will help us gain support and recognition as we move forward with our campaign. We would like to get your ideas for a new name for Drop the Rock. Please email Caitlin Dunklee at cdunklee@correctionalassociation.org with any suggestions.
Read more…