Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of a draft of a 23-page report created in September 2003 by the Attica Task Force, produced at the direction of Governor George E. Pataki. Members of the media obtained a copy of this draft report before it was finalized, and disseminated it to the wider public. Based on petitions from the Forgotten Victims of Attica (FVOA) group, the report addresses five large issues of concern stemming from the Attica Correctional Facility riots of 1971: compensation for employee injuries and deaths from the riot; right to conduct an annual memorial service on Attica grounds; counseling for those involved in the riot and retaking of the facility; opening of the state's records to public scrutiny; and an apology from the state.

The task force conducted public hearings in a variety of locations around the state, which it used to make recommendations for the governor to proceed on all five issues. Of note: the draft report includes a list of appendices, but copies of the appendices themselves are not included.

After this draft was made public, there is no evidence that a final report was ever issued. Based on the Attica Task Force's recommendations, in January 2005 Governor Pataki approved a $12 million settlement for deaths and injuries sustained by prison personnel in the Attica riot.