Residents, advocates press Albany County Legislature for civilian oversight of county jail

Dozens of residents, formerly incarcerated people and local advocates told the Albany County Legislature on April 14 that the Albany County Correctional Facility needs an independent civilian oversight review board to investigate alleged abuse, improve medical care and restore public trust.

Speakers described multiple incidents they said show a culture of violence and inadequate oversight at the jail. Ronnie Minter of the Freedom Unshackled Coalition, who identified himself as formerly incarcerated, said the county’s reliance on internal investigations and the state Commission of Corrections has not produced accountability and urged the legislature to support stronger independent oversight. “When budgets pass without demands for transparency, oversight, or accountability, this body becomes complicit,” he said.

The call for a review board drew support from religious and community groups. Jim Ketchum, a member of the board of the New York State Council of Churches, said faith communities view people in county custody as neighbors who deserve protection from abuse. Valerie Alexander, vice president of Bridge the Gap Resource and Outreach Inc., and Deborah Brown, president of the Albany NAACP, said they support a review board with real investigatory authority and public reporting.

Speakers pressed the legislature to consider specific powers for the board, including subpoena power, the ability to work with unions and access to medical and video evidence. Several speakers cited recent videos and alleged incidents, and asked the legislature to ensure the board is not merely a symbolic body. Barbara Rio Glick of Freedom Unshackled said the public has seen videos and claims that indicate “a culture of violence” that coexists with the fact that corrections work can be dangerous, and that independent review is necessary to distinguish between legitimate use of force and abuse.

Families who lost relatives while in county custody were referenced during comments. One speaker described the deaths of Alik Leonard in 2021 and Brian Bishop in 2022 while under jail supervision and said those families seek independent investigation and systemic reforms, including reliable medical response protocols and use-of-force clarity.

Advocates also pointed to pending state-level reforms: Ronnie Minter referenced Senate Bill S856, which he said would expand membership of New York’s Commission of Corrections to include civil-rights leaders, health-care professionals and people impacted by the system. Speakers said local action is still needed because state oversight alone has not ensured transparency in Albany County.

The public comment period ended with multiple requests that the chair and the legislature’s committees meet with advocates to discuss next steps, funding and legislative routes to create an oversight body with investigatory teeth. The Legislature did not vote on establishing a civilian oversight board during the April 14 meeting.

The session’s comments reflect sustained community pressure: advocates requested regular, funded reporting back to the legislature, access to inmate medical and disciplinary records for independent review, and a process for families to lodge complaints that receive timely, public responses.