On October 22, 2025, the Jersey City Municipal Council unanimously passed a historic resolution, a Declaration of Environmental Rights for Incarcerated People, the first of its kind in New Jersey to address unsafe water, polluted air, and dehumanizing conditions inside correctional facilities.
This effort was championed by Clean Water Action’s Lead Environmental Justice Organizer X Braithwaite and our partners at Women Who Never Give Up, as well as Council President Joyce Watterman and Councilman Frank Gilmore.
This resolution passed with a unanimous 9-0 vote — a powerful testament to the collective commitment of our community and local leadership to justice, health, and human rights. This victory is more than symbolic — it marks the beginning of a statewide movement to extend environmental justice beyond prison walls.
Why Environmental Justice Must Include the Incarcerated
Environmental justice does not stop at the prison gates. For too long, our state’s incarcerated population — more than 13,000 people — has been excluded from basic environmental protections and oversight. Many facilities are built near industrial corridors and toxic sites, leaving those inside exposed to polluted air, tainted water, and unsafe living conditions.
In 2024, the New Jersey Office of the Corrections Ombudsperson documented over 300 complaints of raw sewage backups, mold, and lack of medical care in state prisons — a reflection of broader systemic failures. People incarcerated in these facilities often drink and bathe in water contaminated with lead, arsenic, manganese, and harmful bacteria. With rising temperatures and climate-related disasters such as the 2023 wildfire smoke event, conditions have only worsened, leading to increased rates of asthma, COPD, and heat-related illnesses.
The Council’s resolution acknowledges these harsh realities, affirming that every person — regardless of incarceration status — has the right to a healthy and safe environment.
Inside the Resolution
Resolution 25-654 supports federal legislation introduced by Representative Ayanna Pressley and Senator Edward Markey (H. Res. 1178) and calls for expansion in the next Congressional session. It urges the state to formally adopt a Declaration of Environmental Rights for Incarcerated People, anchored in principles of human dignity and accountability.
Among its key provisions, the resolution calls for:
- A right to healthy and safe environments within all carceral facilities.
- Protection from extreme temperatures, toxic exposures, and hazardous labor conditions.
- Access to information about environmental hazards and the right to advocate for change without retaliation.
- Recognition that decarceration is a necessary strategy to reduce environmental health harms within the criminal legal system.
Connecting to the Safe Water, Safe Lives Campaign
This milestone builds on the momentum of Clean Water Action’s Safe Water, Safe Lives Campaign, which advocates for equitable access to clean drinking water for New Jersey’s most marginalized populations — including those behind bars.
In partnership with Kean University researcher Sydnie Bogan and the Department of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, the campaign highlights how climate change and contamination compound health risks for incarcerated individuals. Her research shows that facilities are particularly vulnerable to heat waves, flooding, and infrastructure failures — with disproportionate impacts on Black and Brown communities from which most incarcerated individuals hail.
This resolution translates research into policy, and policy into action. It acknowledges that incarcerated people are members of our broader environmental ecosystem — and their health and dignity reflect the health of our state as a whole.
Beyond the Walls: A Movement for Dignity
Passing this resolution in Jersey City is just the beginning. Clean Water Action and our partners are working toward statewide adoption of the Declaration of Environmental Rights for Incarcerated People, building toward a future Environmental Health in Prisons Act.
We invite communities, advocates, and lawmakers across New Jersey to join this movement — to speak out, submit public comments, and demand clean water, safe air, and humane conditions for everyone.
Because justice cannot exist in isolation. It must flow through every community, every cell block, and everybody.
Join the Movement
Sign the Petition: Demand action from state authorities to improve water quality and living conditions in New Jersey prisons.
- Submit a Public Comment: Help shape the Declaration of Environmental Rights for Incarcerated People.
- Attend an Info Session or Invite Us to Speak: Learn more about the campaign here and how you can get involved in upcoming events.
Read More: Safe Water, Safe Lives Campaign | Women Who Never Give Up | Jersey City Council Resolution 25-654 Full Text
