COVID-19 is raging across New York jails and prisons. And it's getting worse.
Since the start of the pandemic, dozens of incarcerated people in New York jails and prisons died from COVID-19, and thousands have contracted the virus. Inaction is no longer acceptable. Elected leaders must grant clemencies, pass the Fair and Timely and Elder Parole bills and protect and improve bail reform. The time is now to save lives.
What's happening with criminal justice reform in New York
New York voters presented elected leaders with a clear mandate this past November: go bold on criminal justice reform. Despite the millions spent by opponents of criminal justice reform on ad campaigns riddled with fear-mongering, racism, and lies, New Yorkers stood on the side of justice and are demanding legislative changes that decarcerate jails and prisons. Unfortunately, bail reform rollbacks that were implemented last summer are increasing the pretrial jail population, and we must actively work to reverse course. In addition, we must work to create more meaningful opportunities for people in prisons across the state through passage of parole reform.
This is especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to spread rapidly across jails and prisons and has claimed dozens of lives.
The Case for Criminal Justice Reform in New York
Bail Rollbacks Are Undoing Progress
Meet some of the people who were impacted by bail and why changes to the laws were and continue to be unacceptable.
Why New York’s Bail Reforms Didn’t Go Far Enough
New York took a step towards ending the criminalization of poverty and delivering New Yorkers the pretrial justice they deserve — but we still have work to do.
Fighting for New York Families
New York passed a historic package of pretrial reforms in 2019. Watch three New York families explain how money bail harmed their families and how they fought for change.
