Criminal Justice Reform

Over 100 criminal justice and progressive groups have written a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul, asking her to appoint a new chief judge who has represented the most vulnerable people in society and looked out for defendants’ rights.

Gov. Kathy Hochul says critiques from the left and right on her proposed bail reform changes means that she is in the right place with the plans. The governor gave reporters an update on that, as well as progress made in state budget negotiations.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is defending her proposed changes to the state’s 2019 landmark bail reform laws, writing an op-ed in a New York City tabloid, while the Speaker of the Assembly is casting doubt on whether the items will be part of the state budget, which is due in about a week.

Tensions between Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Legislature are intensifying over a proposal to change the state’s criminal justice laws, with the date for finalizing the state budget just over a week away.

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to roll back portions of the state’s landmark bail reform laws were the subject of an angry rally at the State Capitol Monday, with some speakers comparing the plan to other civil rights setbacks, including the creation of Jim Crow laws in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Republican members of the state Legislature focused largely on the proposed repeal of bail reform, a set of laws enacted last year that largely eliminated the use of cash bail for most nonviolent and lower-level charges.

On the first Day of Advocacy in 2022 criminal justice reform groups and state lawmakers are making a push to have two parole reform bills passed during the early part of the legislative session.

Criminal justice reform supporters gathered outside of the downtown Holding Center in Buffalo as part of a statewide rally to introduce three new bills due to go to the floor of the state legislature.

Buffalo lawmakers are united in a call to their state counterparts to pass the New York Clean Slate bill in 2022. The legislation, if passed, would automatically seal conviction records for individuals who complete their prison sentence, probation or parole, or both. They must also not be charged or convicted of any other crimes in New York State during their waiting period.

As the New York State Legislature’s session draws to a close, lawmakers are considering several criminal justice changes, including what’s known as the Clean Slate legislation.