Commentary: Let's prioritize care over incarceration

When Cathy Citro addressed a rally in May at New York City Hall, it was clear that she was thriving. She is balancing an internship and part-time work, preparing to start full-time work, and managing her complex health needs. As she spoke, she proudly held up to the crowd the keys to her brand new apartment.

You wouldn’t know she was recently released from prison after decades of legal system involvement.

As a court advocate, I met Ms. Citro when her attorney referred her to us. Almost 60 years old, she was facing six years in state prison for three active cases of theft. With long-term addiction issues, unstable housing, unaddressed trauma and no support network, she’d had over 45 prior encounters with the legal system.
 

But where others saw a case number, we saw a human being in crisis.
 

My role wasn’t to judge, but to understand – to look beyond her charges at the root causes. Through our conversations, Ms. Citro took accountability and revealed a harrowing story she had never shared. Her behavior stemmed from mental health challenges and addiction triggered by sexual trauma – issues no prison sentence would resolve.
 

Viewing her story through a public health lens revealed a profound truth: Her persistent involvement with the legal system wasn’t simple lawlessness, but desperation. She wanted to be seen, to know she mattered. 

I drafted a comprehensive report for the court that resulted in a consolidated two-year sentence at Albion Correctional Facility covering all three cases – significantly less than the six years she initially faced.
 

Then our team took action. We connected her with crucial mental health services, helping her use the time before incarceration to work on emotional healing. She meditated, attended anger and stress management classes, and saw a therapist.
 

As a transgender woman, Ms. Citro benefited from our referrals to LGBTQ+ affinity groups where she could find community. We also connected her to the Legal Aid Society, whose advocates later wrote to the parole board supporting early release.
 

This coordinated support network, combined with Ms. Citro’s decision to share her story, proved pivotal during her parole hearing. She recalls the commissioner saying he took home her file to reread, he was so struck by it.

After release, we assisted Ms. Citro in her efforts to secure benefits, find health care providers and establish a foundation for lasting change.
 

Ms. Citro spoke at that rally alongside other formerly incarcerated people, urging the City Council to enhance funding for alternatives to incarceration. And council members listened, voting to provide sustained funding that will allow for the continuation of programs like ours that address the circumstances that lead to justice involvement.
 

What’s more, advocates also scored significant wins in Albany this year. This budget cycle, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature baselined $31.4 million for alternatives to incarceration all across the state, reducing reliance on pretrial detention by funding alternatives such as community service and community-based support for mental illness, substance use disorder, and other challenges. The budget also provides $11.56 million for reentry services, which facilitate the transition from prison and help formerly incarcerated people secure housing, education and employment. The state Senate made an additional $6 million investment in these programs that serve justice-involved individuals everywhere.
 

But we still have a long way to go. Though the baselined funding is a crucial victory, it is only a restoration of previous funding levels — not an increase to these chronically underfunded programs. Additionally, we need to address workforce shortages in addiction recovery, mental health care and other critical service areas by investing in training, retention and support for staff. Further state investment is needed to build the staff capacity and expand the reach of these programs.


It would be a worthwhile investment. Our state spends $15.4 billion on policing and corrections, and people like Ms. Citro can still slip through the cracks. When they do, the taxpayer foots the bill: Incarceration costs New York approximately $115,000 per person annually, and sometimes much more. Advocacy and support services, by contrast, save tens of millions, reducing incarceration while producing better outcomes.
 

Alternatives to incarceration don’t just reduce recidivism; they transform lives by addressing underlying issues. And they don’t just benefit individual lives like Ms. Citro’s – the positive impacts radiate outward, strengthening families, neighborhoods, and public safety.
 

Read the op-ed in its original format here.