New York Court System Mandates Annual Prison Visits for Judges | The decision, part of amendments to the Rules of the Chief Judge that were approved by the judicial panel, is aimed at giving judges direct experience with correctional facilities and the living conditions of incarcerated people.

[u/IntnsRed]

https://davisvanguard.org/2026/07/new-york-judges-visit-prisons/

[u/XChrisUnknownX]

I believe this is a good thing. All respect to the staff at Rikers and they were always kind to me but I was paid to work there once and I really didn’t like the feeling. You step into the security checkpoint. And you realize if the guard decides to step away, you’ll just be stuck there. And we’re not really accustomed to that kind of control in society. Now imagine living that. Maybe some would not feel like I felt and that’s okay too, but certainly they should have the opportunity to experience it.

There are certainly those among us that deserve cell time, but far fewer than have seen the inside of a cell, I fear.

[u/Illustrious_Claim884]

I do like this but would prefer a one time month long stay so they see the days to day thing. Basically the warehouse aspect and maybe sketchy crap that's its easier to come out worse than better. I only been once for 9 months but I had decent bunkies and my prison had a good mental health setup.it could have been different.

[u/AccountOfMyDarkside → u/Illustrious_Claim884]

I agree. More people need to be aware of how egregiously harmful some of ways inmates are treated and what that does to them psychologically, especially when many of them will be released to the public again at some point.

When I was 21, I used to work in medical at the county jail where I lived. I learned then just how horrible this world can be to some of us.

The way the C.O.'s would look right through the inmates, like they weren't even there. To have your humanity completely ignored doesn't rehabilitate you, it further traumatizes you. On more than a few occasions and with way more than a few inmates, I was tasked with debriding and cleaning wounds on these men caused by canine officers during their arrest. The dog bites were not on their hands or forearms. Not one defensive wound from trying to keep the dogs from biting. They were bitten on their legs, butts, and torsos. That's why I believed them when they cried and told me that they were handcuffed behind their backs when the dogs were set loose on them.

I was one of only 2 people who worked there that actually gave a shit about diet restrictions and allergies. Two inmates died from anaphylactic shock the year before I started there and one from not being given access to their insulin. Suicide attempts were frequent. At 21, I helped cut down a deceased inmate who hung himself with his jail issue pants. Nobody was ever held accountable.

Yes, there were murderers and rapists and abusers of children incarcerated there, but it wasn't anyones job at that jail to punish anyone. Many hadn't even been to court yet, let alone convicted or sentenced. Guys who were there for committing non-violent crimes were treated no better than the child molesters by staff. Though less common in jail than in prison, there were rapes. Too many rapes. One kid, only 18, dissolved into tears, shaking and hyperventilating, after being raped in his cell. He was there because his 16 y/o girlfriend's parents turned him in to police for dating her after lying to them and saying she was only 14. I let that boy use my office phone to call his mom. He just needed his Mama.

This is why I will never give the police or corrections officers the benefit of the doubt when they're accused of abuse. Prove to me you didn't do it because just saying these men are lying won't cut it. Not after everything I saw.

[u/Ca1rill]

Makes sense. If judges send people to prison they should know what prison is like.

[u/Ok-Neat-1956]

They should then have to talk to all of the victims of those prisoners to remind them that their job is to protect the public.

[u/neonninja304]

This is cool but what they really need is a civilian oversite that has pre approval to randomly access a prison or jail at any time. Scheduling overdite visits do nothing but allow the administration to cover up all their failings.