Those We Have Lost: Valerie Gaiter

On Tuesday, August 13th, 2019, Valerie Gaiter died in DOCCS custody. She was 61 years old and had been in prison for nearly 40 years. At the time of her death, she was the longest-serving woman in a New York State prison. Val had only recently been diagnosed with cancer and never received treatment. During her time inside, Val was a mentor to young women across Bedford Hills. She worked with the Puppies Behind Bars program, and was the photographer in the prison visit room. Val was serving a sentence of 50 years to life, meaning she would not see the Parole Board until she was 73 years old. Had Elder Parole passed last session, she would have had an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board six years before her death.