‘Any changes that add pretrial racial profiling or expand unjust money bail to these reforms are an intentional attack against communities of color, disabled people, LGBTQ people, and mentally ill people. ‘
A priest and a rabbi write, ‘Our traditions teach that when a person is held captive and the value of their freedom is assigned a price tag that they cannot afford,’ the basic teachings of both their faiths are violated.
As the governor and state lawmakers wrestle with weighty issues like congestion pricing and marijuana legalization during the state budget process, hope has slightly dimmed that they will address the problems playing out in courtrooms and jail cells.
‘Legislation to reform New York’s bail and discovery laws will protect victims of violence—particularly when they become defendants.’
The sponsor of an Assembly measure that would sharply constrain the use of financial bail says she is optimistic her proposal will become law now that Democrats control the State Senate.
From courtrooms to prisons, and from pot to parole, the four gubernatorial candidates stake out distinct positions on top criminal justice policy issues.
Cuomo has backed reforms to courtroom practices, policing and incarceration. Nixon has advocated for more aggressive changes.
‘We know that Republicans will not be helpful in our efforts to build a more just society – but Democratic leaders are also letting us down.’
Two veteran advocates for the arrested, the incarcerated and the recently released say that from bail reform to parole, Rikers to homeless shelters, the criminal justice system continues to damage people at high cost to taxpayers.
In the wake of a state budget that whiffed on criminal justice reform, Gov. Cuomo has continued to chide Mayor de Blasio for sticking to a 10-year timeline for closing Rikers Island that the governor believes is too slow.