The New York City Food Policy Center and the Correctional Association of New York are proud to announce a new partnership to improve food access, quality, and nutritional standards across New York’s correctional facilities. This marks a significant step toward addressing the intersection of public health, food justice, and the rights and well-being of incarcerated individuals.
Guided by the Food Policy Center’s commitment to developing intersectoral, innovative, and evidence-based solutions to food insecurity and diet-related disease, this collaboration brings a research-driven, systems-oriented approach to understanding how food functions within institutional settings and how it can be leveraged to promote better health outcomes and long-term equity. At the same time, the partnership draws on the Correctional Association of New York’s unique and legally mandated role providing independent oversight of state prisons, including its authority to monitor conditions, engage directly with incarcerated individuals, and advocate for policies that promote transparency, accountability, and the protection of human and civil rights. By combining these complementary strengths, the two organizations aim to shine a light on the often-overlooked role of food within correctional environments and to advance a more comprehensive understanding of how food policies impact physical health, mental well-being, dignity, and broader reentry outcomes for incarcerated people.
This partnership recognizes that food is not simply a matter of sustenance, but a critical component of public health infrastructure and a powerful lens through which systemic inequities can be examined and addressed. Within correctional facilities, food policies and practices can influence rates of chronic illness, shape daily experiences of dignity and autonomy, and reflect broader institutional priorities and constraints. Through collaborative research, policy analysis, and stakeholder engagement, the New York City Food Policy Center and the Correctional Association of New York will work to identify gaps in current practices, document lived experiences, and elevate the voices of those most directly impacted by prison food systems. This includes examining nutritional adequacy, food safety, cultural relevance, procurement practices, and the broader structural factors that shape how food is sourced, prepared, and distributed within prisons.
In addition to research and policy work, the partnership will serve as a platform for convening organizations and individuals engaged in efforts to improve prison food, creating space for conversation and collective action. As part of this collaboration, both organizations are planning a panel discussion that will bring together organizations doing work within prison food to share insights, explore key challenges, and build momentum for change. This panel, scheduled for the week of July 13th, 2026, will focus specifically on the issues facing food in New York State prisons, providing a timely opportunity to deepen public understanding, elevate critical perspectives, and foster dialogue around pathways toward a more just and health-promoting correctional food system.
