Lucas Marquez proposes task force amendments to Intro 133
Lucas Marquez of Brooklyn Defender Services and the task force supports Intro 133 but says amendments are needed. He describes structural problems including lack of administrative support, uneven agency participation, and DOC opacity, and proposes Board of Correction administration, qualified representatives, reporting, and consultation requirements.
Thank you.
My name is Lucas Marquez.
I'm the Director of Law Reform at Brooklyn Defender Services, and I work with our jail services team.
I've served on the task force since 2023.
The task force advocates want to support Intro 133, but believe amendments are needed, and I'll just explain why.
At the outset, I want to emphasize that we are eager to work with DOC and CHS.
We understand that it's vital in doing so to reduce the risk, violence, and indignity that people face when they're placed in a DOC custody.
But over the last several years, the task force produced important work despite serious structural problems.
It has lacked dedicated administrative support, the ability to obtain information, and to move its work forward.
Agency participation has been uneven.
Representatives frequently did not have the relevant experience, authority to answer critical questions, or buy-in to push changes in the agencies.
DOC has not been transparent in providing key policies or providing important updates.
For years, and as you heard today, we were told that the principal directive governing the treatment and housing of trans, intersex, and gender non-binary people was under revision.
But at no point were we given details about that process or advised or engaged to opine.
The result is that there had been no changes to that directive.
Furthermore, major decisions were made about department actions that seriously impact
trans and non-binary population without informing us.
For example, people housed at RMSC where the special consideration unit is located were transferred to an entirely different correctional system as part of the emergency response at Rikers.
Another example is that people housed in RMSC units and PC were merged in order to allow cis men into RMSC.
However, in neither of these instances was a task force consulted or even provided details about these actions after implementation, even though these moves created obvious risks for trans non-binary people.
Our amendments respond directly to these failures.
They give the Board of Correction responsibility for administering the task force.
They require agencies to designate representatives with relevant experience and sufficient authority to participate meaningfully.
The amendments require facility tools and meaningful opportunities to hear from people in custody.
They require agencies to provide relevant policies and written notice of changes, improve reporting, and require consultation with the task force.
I'm going to ask you to wrap up, please.
In consultation with the task force before major changes impacting people are implemented.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.