The Chief Defenders Association of New York Calls on the State Legislature to Enact Key Criminal Legal System Reforms in Final Days of Session

(Albany, NY) – The Chief Defenders Association of New York (CDANY) today called on state legislators and Governor Andrew Cuomo to prioritize and enact key criminal legal system reforms that would overhaul New York’s parole system, automatically clear eligible New Yorkers’ criminal record to end a cycle of perpetual punishment, and do away with harmful appeals waivers that deny defendants the opportunity to challenge injustices in the legal system.

Laurette Mulry, President of CDANY, said: “This legislative session, New York State stood up for New Yorkers impacted by the criminal legal system by enacting historic measures that limited the use of solitary confinement, ended marijuana prohibition, and repealed the Walking While Trans ban. We celebrate these tremendous victories on behalf of Black and Latinx New Yorkers who are disproportionately targeted and punished by the state’s criminal legal system, but we also recognize that there is much more to be done. 

As president of the Chief Defenders Association of New York advocating for people facing loss of liberty, family separation and related consequences in the legal system, I implore the legislature to prioritize and pass these critical remaining criminal legal system bills that begin to address and undo the harm of system involvement. This set of legislation seeks to streamline and transform the appeals process; overhaul the parole system; and undo the lifelong consequences of a criminal conviction. As this session draws to a close, we urge our state government to take these crucial steps to continue its commitment to equality and justice.”

The Chief Defenders Association of New York calls on the New York State legislature to enact the following bills: 

• S1279 (Bailey)/A5689 (Cruz) - An Act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to streamlining the assignment of appellate counsel for indigent criminal defendants

• S1281 (Bailey)/A5688 (Cruz) - An Act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to facilitating appellate review of rulings that implicate issues of public concern 

• S1280 (Bailey)/A5687 (Cruz) - An Act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to appellate review of the fairness and appropriateness of an imposed sentence 

• S15-A (Hoylman)/ A3475-A (De La Rosa) - Elder Parole - An act to amend the executive law, in relation to parole eligibility for incarcerated persons over age fifty-five who have already served 15 or more years 

• S1415-A (Rivera)/A4231A (Weprin) - Fair and Timely Parole - An act to amend the executive law, in relation to findings of the state board of parole necessary for discretionary release of incarcerated persons on parole

• S1144 (Benjamin)/A5576 (Forrest) - Less is More - An act to amend the executive law and the penal law, in relation to revocation of community supervision

• S1553A (Myrie)/A6399 (Cruz) - Clean Slate - An act to amend the criminal procedure law, the executive law and the correction law, in relation to automatic expungement of certain convictions