Corrections_Today_November_December_2020_Vol.82_No.6

nEWS&vIEWS

those on the inside of the prison walls; to “adopt our prisons.” PRAC is currently comprised of 19 mem - bers who are committed to a closer integration of the community of Bedford with its prisons. As a result of the COVID-19 pan - demic, PRAC went into overdrive, collecting 11,000 bars of non-lye based soap for frequent hand-wash - ing; 10,000 masks; 2,400 wipes to clean the phones after inmate calls; 22 hot plates to allow for cooking on units/social distancing; 1,000 bottles of hand lotion; 1,000 sets of individ - ual plasticware for each woman to have her own set of utensils to wash and reuse; stationary/cards for keep - ing in touch with family, along with a $500 donation from a church for

stamps for the women to be able to post their mail; and countless skeins of yarn for knitting, given that all volunteer programs had been sus - pended for the time being to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The immediate result was grati - tude on the part of the inmates, who felt cared about and remembered by their community in this crisis. However, two unanticipated results surfaced. First, the superintendents reported that the mood inside the prisons changed. The inmates went from feeling terrified of the pan - demic sweeping across the entire prison and killing them all, to feeling hopeful, provided for, and not forgot - ten. As a result, they started treating the corrections officers better, who

responded in kind. It was a domino effect, for when people feel better, they behave better. Secondly, the superintendents became “rock stars” in the commu - nity. The prison walls became more pliable. The superintendents were seen as more caring and dedicated, rather than unknown people behind a scary wall. The superintendents got to know the community and the community got to know them. Trust developed between the prison administration and the community members working with them. The administration felt comfortable reaching out if there was something the women would benefit from the community, knowing that they would not be judged as negligent for not being able to provide the item im - mediately themselves. For example, when no one was able to get masks - as there simply were none to buy - the administration reached out to PRAC, knowing that we had access to mask makers who could supply cloth masks almost immediately. As Burdick stated, “The Prison Relations Advisory Committee has done simply extraordinary work in the short time since the Bedford Town Board created it. Most importantly, PRAC is furthering the positive, constructive relationship between the town and DOCCS in improving the lives of the women incarcerated in the correctional facilities.” These sentiments are further expanded upon by Acting Com - missioner Anthony J. Annucci of DOCCS NY, who said that “while the Department has always priori - tized positive working relationships and maintained open communica- tions with the communities that

Photo courtesy of Sharon Griest Ballen Tanya Mitchell-Voyd, former superintendent of Taconic Correctional Facility, holds bags of hand-sewn children’s masks donated by PRAC.

10 — November/December 2020 Corrections Today