It is January 3, 2024 a new legislative session began in the state Senate and Assembly of New York, and facing what will be a long journey where New York political leaders will examine a folder of legislative initiatives, on the first day of work, members of the RAPP campaign, which looks after the senior inmatesrelatives of people deprived of liberty and former prisoners, presented their priority agenda for 2024.
From inside the Capitol in Albany, protesters urgently called on the state Legislature to give the green light to a package of reforms that would give greater dignity to those serving their sentences. Behind bars and would avoid mass incarceration.
The clamor that was heard in the legislative house includes, among other requests, that the State advance bills such as parole for older prisoners, access to justice for survivors of abuse who are in prison custody, unemployment insurance for inmates, sentencing reforms, the Clemency Law and the Law of Challenges of wrongful convictions.
“Justice is more than just punishment, but our legal system often does not recognize it. “Many older adults languish behind bars despite having been completely transformed and rehabilitated, harming families and communities and costing taxpayers a fortune,” said the Senator Brad Hoylman-Followl, lead sponsor of the senior parole bill. “This is the year to pass the elder parole bill, as well as fair and timely parole, to give New Yorkers a fair chance to prove who they are today and earn the chance to reunite with their loved ones.” ”.
José Saldana, director of the RAPP campaign, who spent 38 years in prison, expressed the same sentiment and warned that the bills they will fight for this year, so that legislators recognize their importance and approve them, will address “racist sentencing and parole practices.” that have torn apart families and communities for too long and will improve safety.
“They will also allow millions of dollars in savings that can be redirected to resources to improve community safety and support victims of crime, and help ensure that future generations can thrive instead of being trapped in the same racist system of perpetual punishment that afflicts their ancestors,” said the activist. “Our campaign is led by people who have collectively experienced more than 500 years of incarceration. Our shared experience makes us policy experts in this area and we will continue to demand real justice and security.”
TeAna Taylor, RAPP Campaign Co-Director of Policy and Communications, He assured that after the end of the year holidays, a gesture of justice and humanity on the part of Albany would be to support the list of legislative priorities that will govern his cry.
“Many of our staff and members spent another holiday season separated from their families due to incarceration. My family spent the holidays longing for my father’s presence and knowing that our family and community would be better off if he were home and continuing his work against violence in the community rather than navigating the extremely repressive conditions of our prisons. State”, Taylor said. “We are excited to work with our partners in the Legislature to win big victories for justice, healing and safety for all New Yorkers. This is a year for justice.”
Many of the sexual acts claims in the past come from female inmates. Photo Edwin MartinezCredit: Edwin Martínez | Impremedia
Garrett Smith, Center for Community Alternatives (CCA)highlighted that in last year’s legislative session the Clean Slate Law was approved, which seals records, so he asked to continue down that path that puts an end to what they call perpetual punishment systems.
“This year, our lawmakers must build on this success and advance reforms to New York’s archaic and unfair sentencing laws and predatory court rates, including the Second Review Act, the Earned Time Act, the Mandatory Minimum Elimination Act and the Law to End Predatory Judicial Fees,” he commented, referring to bills on costs to inmates.
Other initiatives that will ensure that they are not left behind again are the Rights Behind Bars law, which seeks to protect the basic rights of people in state custody, away from acts of brutality, the Community Sentencing law, No Cages, which would eliminate mandatory minimums, and the Second Look Act, which would allow judges to review and reconsider excessive sentences after a person has served 10 years or half of their sentence.
2024-01-03 22:52:35
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