Fixing a Broken Criminal Justice System
When I served as a Public Defender at Legal Aid for seven years, I saw from the inside how broken our criminal justice system is. Instead of keeping us safer, the laws have led to harsh punishments for minor crimes, growing prison populations, and basic rights like the presumption of innocence cast aside. The laws haven’t kept us safer - they’ve just hid from our problems, rather than fixing them. I believe in redemption, respect, and human rights, and know that if we create more pathways to opportunity, and treat those who have made mistakes humanely, we can build a better, more just society for all.
Leading the Charge
As the Chair of the Corrections Committee for several years, I took a leading role in fixing our criminal justice system. I have visited dozens of prisons across our State, spoken with inmates, and worked with advocates to address issues from the court room to post-release programs. I’ve pushed to change the law on solitary confinement, to prevent abuse of power in jails, and to support programs that keep at-risk youth from getting trapped in a cycle of violence and incarceration. I am proud of the progress we’ve made in recent years, from Bail Reform to creating more programs to divert people from the criminal justice system, but there is far more we need to do to ensure a truly fair New York.
Repealing 50-a
Among the legislation I am most proud to have passed is the 2020 Repeal of 50-a.
When a member of the public is killed by a police officer, there are no winners. But as the courts and public try to understand an incident, vital information, such as if the officer had a history of violence or abuse of force, was being kept from everyone, including journalists, lawyers, and even the family of the victim. This police secrecy was enabled by a section of New York State Law known as “50-a”.
In the summer of 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd’s murder by Officer Derek Chauvin in Minnesotta, New Yorkers spoke out loud and clear in response, calling for justice in the countless cases of unarmed civilians, usually black, killed by law enforcement officers misusing force and abusing their authority.
My bill to repeal “50-a” was a clear and direct response to the need for reform. In June 2020, I debated the bill on the floor of the Assembly for over eight hours, before finally passing the bill, and opening a new era in the fight for police transparency, accountability, and justice.
Restoring the Right to Vote
Voting is the foundation of our democracy, and a right that every citizen should be able and encouraged to exercise. When individuals are released on parole, they have demonstrated that are ready to return to society and contribute, yet currently, they are prevented from engaging in our democracy. My bill to restore the right to vote for those on parole helps integrate those reentering our communities to have a stake in out system, while strengthening democracy and representation in our government.
Increasing Oversight and Transparency
In New York State, our prison system remains dangerous and opaque. Key reforms to protect incarcerated people and correctional officers have been stymied, and incidents of violence and abuse go uninvestigated and swept under the rug, preventing changes that could lead to better out comes for all. That’s why I introduced a bill to create an Independent Correctional Ombudsman, allowing outside oversight and independent investigations of any incidents.