Corrections_Today_Winter_2025-2026_Vol.87_No.4

CORRECTIONAL CHAPLAIN PERSPECTIVES

Beside the Osborne Asso ciation program of parenting and self-awareness, the Alternative to Violence Program (AVP) and several Bible study groups, the only higher education program left in New York State prison system was the MPS from New York Theological Semi nary. Halfway through the decade, a few sparks of light appeared. A new pre-college program, the Certificate in Ministry and Human Services Program, developed by MPS gradu ates and outside volunteers, opened in 1995. Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), spearhead by an out side volunteer, Katherine Vockins and a group of creative incarcerated folks, started in 1996. Again, with the initiative of the incarcerated and outside volunteers, the Hudson Link College Program was created in direct response to the closing of the Pell Grants. Today, Hudson Link and RTA are under the dynamic leadership of former Sing Sing residents, Sean Pica and Jermaine Archer. Both programs operate in numerous NYS prisons. In the early nineties, media began casting critical lights on the rapid growth of the criminal legal system, as exemplified by Atlantic Magazine’s twenty-seven-page article, “The Prison Industrial Complex” by Eric Schlosser in 1998. The piece detailed how economic, racial and political interests had influenced and twisted incarceration policies. A new era unfolding Sing Sing, a maximum-security facility, had for decades included within its perimeter a medium-se curity section named Tappan. When

Tappan closed in 2003, hundreds of the incarcerated transferred to other medium security prisons in the lower New York region. Many of these people had benefitted from various educational programs in Sing Sing and quickly lobbied for similar programs in their new home facilities. Within a few years, programs of college, theater and creative arts, self-development and restorative justice spread through medium security prison in lower New York state like Fishkill, Eastern (medium-security annex), Wood bourne, Otisville, and Arthur Kill (now closed). While he understood society’s need for incarceration, Superintendent Fischer made sure those incarcerated under his watch had a fair chance for self-improvement during incarceration and gained tools to reenter society successfully upon release.

personification of a firm and pro gressive corrections administrator. While he understood society’s need for incarceration, Superintendent Fischer made sure those incarcerat ed under his watch had a fair chance for self-improvement during incar ceration and gained tools to reenter society successfully upon release. He was known to walk through the facility to meet and talk with the incarcerated. Promoted to New York State Commissioner in 2007, his firm but dignified treatment and care of the incarcerated is highly recognized in the New York correc tional system. Sing Sing Correctional Facility reaches its 200 th anniversary this year and is celebrated by the open ing of the Sing Sing Museum. This major effort has been under way for several years and their objective is to become a leading prison museum in the U.S. Assistance in reaching that goal is a $2.5 million dollar grant from the Lily Foundation. Sing Sing’s Museum Assistant Director Amy Hufnagel says, “The Sing Sing Museum envisions a justice system dedicated to healing and rehabilita tion and a correctional system that respects humanity and dignity for all.” This notion of a system that focuses on rehabilitation over retribution took another form when Hans Hallundbaek, the Director of Interfaith Prison Partnership at the time, initiated the idea of “Adopt a Prison”. As he said, “If a person can adopt a highway, why can a com munity not adopt its local prison?” He took the idea to the Town Su pervisor at the time, Chris Burdick. The September 2019 Adopt a

When Brian Fischer became superintendent at Sing Sing in 2000, the prison experienced a renaissance. With a background in social work, psychology and parole Superintendent Fischer became the

Winter 2025-2026 | Corrections Today

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