CCA works to build a world where everyone has what they need to thrive.

Founded by Marsha Weissman in 1981, CCA is one of the first community-based alternative-to-incarceration programs in the State of New York.

Over the past 40 years, CCA has grown into a statewide organization widely recognized for our principled stance on criminal legal reform and our high-impact programs for people affected by systems of incarceration or criminalization. Under Marsha’s leadership, CCA achieved several key successes, including influencing the New York State Legislature to prioritize reintegration in sentencing, reforming drug laws and shifting the juvenile legal system toward community-based programs instead of detention.

Since 2015, Executive Director David Condliffe has continued to advance this legacy. Under his leadership, CCA has secured policy wins such as reducing youth incarceration through “Raise the Age” legislation and helping remove barriers to higher education for people with criminal records by leading the effort to “Ban the Box” on SUNY applications.

In 2023, CCA played a critical role in passing the Clean Slate Act, the nation’s most expansive record-sealing law, enabling New Yorkers with conviction histories to access jobs, housing, and education. This victory resulted from years of organizing alongside a coalition of businesses, labor unions and civil rights groups.

CCA continues to expand our programs and launch new initiatives to build a world where everyone has what they need to thrive.