Cuomo: New York Times Report On Racial Bias In NY State Prisons 'Disturbing'
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched an investigation into racial bias in the New York state prison system following an investigation by The New York Times.
The newspaper reports that black prisoners were punished at higher rates and subjected to solitary confinement more often than white inmates.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that he has directed the state inspector general to look into the allegations and recommend immediate changes if necessary.
The Times' report looked at nearly 60,000 disciplinary cases from last year and found that black inmates at one upstate prison were four times more likely than white prisoners to be sent to isolation. The paper also found that, though the use of solitary confinement has seen a 12 percent decrease among African American prison populations, they were still held in solitary confinement for longer periods than their white counterparts.
The report also found that among low level offenders, white inmates were released earlier than black inmates, with white inmates serving an average of 803 days compared to black inmates serving an average of 883 days for the same exact crime. The report also found that one in four white inmates were released after their first parole meeting, as compared to one out of six for Hispanic or black inmates.
Cuomo told the New York Times that he also planned to appoint more minority members to the state parole board to "ensure the state's Parole Board is reflective of the population it serves."
Cuomo called The Times' report "disturbing."
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