Lawmakers must pass sentencing reform to advance racial equity, strengthen communities, and keep New Yorkers safe

New York’s economy is suffering from a labor shortage exacerbated by people who are needlessly locked out of the workforce by incarceration and its collateral consequences.



Incentivizing program participation through the Earned Time Act will better prepare people for successful reentry and increase participation in the workforce moving forward.

Strengthening New York’s Workforce Through Sentencing Reform

New York’s economy is suffering from a labor shortage exacerbated by people who are needlessly locked out of the workforce by incarceration and its collateral consequences.


New York will never reach its full potential unless we advance common-sense sentencing reforms that will safely reduce the prison population, reunite families, and strengthen the state’s workforce, while also protecting public safety.

Mass Incarceration Does Not Make New York Safer

A robust body of research, built over decades, has proven that jail stays and long prison sentences do not reduce crime. At the same time, the harms of mass incarceration are clear: it breaks families apart, destabilizes communities, and aggravates the very types of racial and economic inequality that make communities more vulnerable to gun violence. Fortunately, we also have powerful evidence about what does work to reduce crime and, in particular, gun violence. Achieving public safety for all New Yorkers means avoiding the failed policies of the past and, instead, choosing proven solutions, supported by data, that strengthen and protect communities.

Justice, Safety, and Prosperity: New York's Bail Reform Success Story

Bail reform has contributed to the prosperity of New York by allowing people to maintain their lives in their communities rather than remain in jail awaiting trial. It also has not compromised public safety, demonstrating, once again, that effective criminal justice policy can reduce incarceration while maintaining safety. Analysis by FWD.us showed that the vast majority of cases affected by bail reform did not result in a re-arrest for a violent felony, and overall rearrest rates remained stable pre- and post-bail reform.

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Your Deep Dive: Criminal Justice Reform in New York

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Bail Impact Brief

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  • Press Statement
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Third Unnecessary Rollbacks to Bail Reform Will Not Improve Public Safety

  • Policy & Reports
  • New York

Freedom, Then the Press, Volume II: New Data, Same Tricks

  • Press Statement
  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Statement: New York Lawmakers Must Reject the False Narrative That Increasing…

  • Press Statement
  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Statement on Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State Address

  • Press Statement
  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Statement on Need to Advance Sentencing Reform in the 2024 New…

  • Press Statement
  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Statement: Effort to Place Rikers Under Federal Receivership is a Reminder…

  • Criminal Justice

NEW Spanish-Language FWD.us Report Highlights Overwhelming Success of New York’s Life-Saving Bail…

  • Press Statement
  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Statement on Mayor’s Openness to Sending People Seeking Asylum to Rikers

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  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Statement: New York Lawmakers Must Continue to Hold the Line Against…

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FWD.us Statement: Data in DCJ Study Makes Clear that Bail Reform is…

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  • Criminal Justice

Senate and Assembly Budgets Reject Further Bail Reform Rollbacks

  • Press Release
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NEW REPORT FINDS NEW YORK’S BAIL REFORM LAWS TO BE A BOON…

  • Press Statement
  • Criminal Justice

New York Elected Leaders Must Protect Bail Reform and Invest in Proven…

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  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Statement on Governor Hochul’s State of the State: “More Incarceration Won’t…

  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Statement on Need to Advance Criminal Justice Reforms During 2023 New…

  • Press Release
  • Criminal Justice

NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS HOW MISLEADING MEDIA COVERAGE HAS IGNORED CLEAR DATA SHOWING…

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The Data is Clear: Bail Reform and Community Investments Will Keep New…

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Bail Reform Works, Lawmakers Must Invest in Community Resources to Make New…

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Bail Rollbacks Undermine New York’s Criminal Justice Reform Progress and Do Not…

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NUMEROUS ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN PROPOSALS TO CRIMINALIZE POVERTY & INCARCERATE MORE NEW YORKERS…

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  • Criminal Justice

Rollbacks to Critical Criminal Justice Reforms Will Harm New Yorkers

  • Press Statement
  • Criminal Justice

State Leaders Must Reject Any Rollbacks to Recent Criminal Justice Reforms

  • Press Release
  • Criminal Justice

ICYMI: New York State Legislative Leaders agree: There is no connection between…

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FWD.us Responds To Mayor Eric Adams’s Speech on Gun Violence and The…

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Advancing and Protecting Fair and Common Sense Criminal Justice Reforms Must Be…

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ICYMI: Times Union Editorial Board: Get Facts Before Revising Bail Reforms

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New York Lawmakers Must Continue the Fight to Protect Bail Reform

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FWD.us Statement on New York Governor Signs Critical Criminal Justice Reform Legislation

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New York Lawmakers Fail to Deliver on Parole Legislation to Address State’s…

  • Press Release
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ICYMI: Growing Support from Lawmakers and Community Leaders Fuels A Giant Push…

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  • Criminal Justice

New Report Shows Media Negligence in Coverage of New York Bail Reform…

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Freedom, Then the Press: New York Media and Bail Reform

  • Press Statement
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New York Lawmakers Have a Chance to Advance Long Overdue Parole Reforms…

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FWD.us Applauds State Senate Action on The Fair and Timely Parole Bill,…

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FWD.us Urges Governor Cuomo to Act Now to Ensure the Health and…

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FWD.us Emphasizes Need for Bold Criminal Justice Reform During 2021 Legislative Session

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FWD.us Post-Election Analysis: Criminal Justice Reform Won at Polls Despite Fear Tactics…

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FWD.us Statement Urges New York Lawmakers to Listen to Voters, Champion Bold…

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FWD.us Statement on Implementation of New York Bail Rollbacks

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FWD.us Statement on Bail Reform Legislation in New York

  • Press Release
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ICYMI: Keep It Simple, Albany. This Is No Time for Budget Games.

  • Press Release
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FWD.us Poll Conducted by Global Strategy Group Demonstrates Overwhelming Support for Bail…

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FWD.us Statement on Shock at Rolling Back Bail Reform During Pandemic

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FWD.us Launches Six Figure Commercial Buy Featuring New Yorkers Directly Impacted by…

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FWD.us Report Shows Attempts to Roll Back Bail Reform Will Most Harm…

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The Real Impact of New York’s Bail Reform

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  • New York

FWD.us Statement Rejecting Any Rollbacks To New York’s Current Bail Reform Laws

  • Press Release
  • Criminal Justice

FWD.us Releases End-of-Session Analysis on Historic New York Pretrial Justice Reforms

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Recap: New York Legislative Session 2019

  • Press Release
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Voices from Across the Political Spectrum Rally Against Republican-Driven Efforts to Perpetuate…

  • Press Statement
  • New York

FWD.us Statement on Pretrial Criminal Justice Reform Legislation in New York

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FWD.us Statement on Fear-Mongering by Opponents of Criminal Justice Reform

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FWD.us Statement on Daily News Story about FWD.us-led Coalition Calling for Criminal…

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FWD.us Statement on New York Governor’s State of the State Address

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FWD.us Statement On New York Governor’s Justice Agenda

  • Press Release
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NEW POLL: New York Primary Voters Want Candidates who Support Criminal Justice…

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FWD.us Statement on Gov. Cuomo Signing State Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct Legislation

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FWD.us Statement on New York Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct Bill

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ICYMI – Assembly Members on why New York should eliminate cash bail…

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FWD.us Statement on the Continued Need for Pretrial Reform in New York

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Assembly Members on why NY should eliminate cash bail for smaller crimes

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FWD.us Statement on NY State Assembly’s Passage of the Walker Reform Bill

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Jets CEO signs onto letter urging lawmakers to pass comprehensive bail reform

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Closing Rikers Island Depends on Bold Bail Reform in Albany

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Players Coalition members call on NY lawmakers to pass comprehensive bail reform

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New York Can’t Close Rikers Without Real Bail Reform

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FWD.us Statement on Anniversary of Kalief Browder’s death

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Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order to Restore Voting Rights to People on Parole

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Professional Football Players Urge NY to Lead the Way on Pretrial Reform

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Poll Memo: Broad Bipartisan Support for Bold Pre-trial Reforms in New York…

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Polling Finds Overwhelming Bipartisan Support for Pretrial Reform Efforts in New York

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FWD.us to lead expanded line of work, hires criminal justice reform expert