NY Times Article: In light of the costs associated with the growing level of incarceration, the Pew Center on the States recommends “diverting nonviolent offenders away from prison and using punishments short of reincarceration for minor or technical violations of probation or parole. It also urged states to consider earlier release of some prisoners.” Click here to read more.
New York Law Journal Article: A Watertown City Judge has ruled that a court has a duty to ensure that defendants who plead guilty to violations have a “full understanding” that their conviction history might be available to the public. Click here to read more; Click here to read the opinion.
New York Times Feature: Description of the effects of high incarceration rates among particularly troubled neighborhoods. Click here to read more.
H.R.:1593 Second Chance Act of 2007 – the Second Chance Act reauthorizes the grant program for reentry of offenders into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, and improves reentry planning and implementation. This bill passed in the House of Representatives by roll call vote on November 13, 2007. Click here to read more.
Washington Post Article: CDC report concludes that youths who are tried as adults and housed in adult prisons experience higher rates of recidivism and commit more violent crimes than do minors who remain in the juvenile justice system. Click here to read more.
ABA, others focus on easing the added punishments for those convicted of crimes: “At the 2003 ABA annual meeting, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy gave an influential speech that questioned the effectiveness of sentencing policies and prisons in the United States. Soon afterward, then-ABA President Dennis W. Archer of Detroit formed the Justice Kennedy Commission to study issues relating to prisons and sentencing. In 2004, the House of Delegates approved a recommendation by the commission that called for procedures that would allow offenders who have served sentences to request restoration of their legal rights and relief from other collateral consequences.” Click here to read more.
Press Release: New York State Bar Association calls for Sweeping Reform to Help Integrate Former Offenders Back Into Society. Adopting a report by the Bar Association’s Special Committee on Collateral Consequences of Criminal Proceedings, the NYSBA adopted reforms intended to lower recidivism and increase public safety. Click here to read more
Upcoming Event: Forum on Prisoner Re-Entry and Collateral Consequences of Criminal Charges. Sponsored by the City Bar Justice Center and the New York City Bar Association, this exciting program will include a panel discussion on the roadblocks to re-entry and reintegration into society of persons with criminal records and a substantive training on legal methods for overcoming these roadblocks: reviewing rap sheets, obtaining certificates of relief or good conduct, challenging employment discrimination, and appealing denials of public housing. Click here to read more
Article in the New York times detailing the difficulties in expunging criminal records. The article focuses on the difficulty of deleting information in private databases used by employers and other interested persons for backgrounds checks. Click here to read more.
This memo, issued by the State Board of Elections on March 26, 2006, offers clairifcation to local Boards on the voting rights of NYS residents with felony convictions.