August 24, 2021
Senator Salazar, Committee on Crime and Correction
Assembly Member Weprin, Committee on Correction
Dear Senator Salazar, Assembly Member Weprin and staff members,
In the past we have spoken and/or written to you in your roles as Chairs of the Committee on Crime and Correction (Senate) and Committee on Correction (Assembly) and staff. Please find attached a copy of a complaint that was filed in the US Northern District of NY Court, on behalf of Taej’on Vega, against corrections officers and Broome County.
Mr. Vega is a young man who was identified as a student with disabilities while he was in school and who left school in the ninth grade. Mr. Vega was denied his medication upon incarceration. The complaint details allegations of a CO beating, body search, racial taunting, humiliation, destruction of property, and lack of follow up medical care. Mr. Vega’s mother took screen shots of his injuries through the jail’s video call system. His mother shared those pictures and they are horrible to see. We have the permission of Mr. Vega, his mother, and the attorneys representing him to share this complaint with you. The complaint also describes Mr. Vega’s attempts at administrative grievance.
This is not an isolated incident: it follows successful lawsuits against the jail and county for abuse of youth and unnecessary deaths, investigations by the Attorney General of the private medical provider and its medical abuse, and numerous community organizations calling for the Governor to replace the current jail administration.
Past efforts by some members of the NYS Legislature have opened the door to looking at conditions at county jails. We have talked with people inside and their families and shared their stories. We have also tried to talk with county legislators and the County Executive, as they continue to fund brutality, racial hatred, and gender abuse.
Please read the complaint. If you would like to see the pictures, please get back to us and we will get permission to share those with you.