Latest news with #ElderParole
New York Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
NY politicians cravenly aim to deny me the justice I'm owed for my son's murder
I have a question for every New York lawmaker pushing the Earned Time Act, Fair and Timely Parole Act, Elder Parole and Second Look Act: Does our pain mean anything to you? How do you fight so hard for the early release of murderers, yet forget the lives they destroyed? How do you look grieving families in the eye — if you even bother to — and still push bills that undo justice for the worst crimes imaginable? How do you fight to give mercy to violent offenders who showed none to the loved ones they murdered? You call it restorative justice and convince yourselves it's about rehabilitation, fairness, reform and second chances. You lean on talking points about over-incarceration, racial disparities, aging prison populations and taxpayer costs. And in doing so, you ignore the voices of those most affected. But let me be clear: There is no restoration for a life taken. There is no second chance for a murder victim. My son's life was taken by a violent, senseless act. He had his whole life ahead of him—a future, goals, a family who loved him deeply. He mattered. And when the person responsible was convicted, I sat in court and listened to the sentence. It felt like someone had finally said: What happened to him mattered. I believed we could begin to grieve, knowing the justice system had recognized the depth of our loss and the seriousness of the crime. How do you advocate for laws that will shorten sentences and hand out second chances to people who never gave their victims one? You talk about reform like it's progress, but for families like mine, it feels like betrayal. These bills don't promote healing — they reopen wounds. You are so focused on helping the people who caused the pain, you've completely forgotten the ones who live with it. These bills are gut punches to every family of a homicide victim who believed the sentence handed down in court would mean something. We were told justice had been served. Now you want to take that back — disguised as 'parole reform' — while ignoring the very real pain and trauma grieving families carry forever. Where is the fairness for the families who live with this pain every single day? You tell yourselves a story that makes it easier to forget ours. It's easier to push a set of bills when you've turned a blind eye to the reality behind the sentence — and an even blinder eye to the irreparable harm caused by the offender. You disconnect from the devastation. When you pass laws that prioritize criminals over victims, you're not reforming the system — you're erasing us. Stop acting like our pain is just an unfortunate side effect of your so-called reform. You shouldn't get to build a political legacy by trampling on the families already shattered by violent crime. Justice is not disposable. And victims deserve more than your indifference. Victims' families, like mine, find it beyond outrageous and callous that you would seek to lessen consequences for violent offenders while brush off the suffering of those they harmed. You are determined to help incarcerated individuals, even if it means re-traumatizing families of homicide victims in the process. We are not collateral damage in your agenda. We were promised justice. Don't take that away from us. We deserve justice — that lasts. And to every New Yorker who believes in real justice — your voice matters. Speak up. Demand that lawmakers stop rewriting sentences and start standing with victims. We cannot allow violent offenders to be treated as if they're the ones who've been wronged. Theresa Bliss is a victims' rights advocate from Suffolk County. After losing her son to homicide, she dedicated herself to fighting legislation that prioritizes violent offenders over victims.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Lefty Albany pols pushing series of bills to approve early parole for violent convicts, Nassau DA warns
The Democratic-run New York state legislature could rush through a series of bills to give convicts early parole and prevent law enforcement from keeping dangerous criminals off the streets, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly warned Sunday. In recent years, Democrats clawed back controversial cashless bail and discovery laws after serial criminals were let loose, triggering massive political blowback. 'These bills undercut everything we work for every day — building strong cases, securing convictions, and ensuring justice is served,' Donnelly, a Republican up for re-election this fall, told The Post. 'When prosecutors do the hard work of putting violent offenders behind bars, we should be backed by laws that protect that progress — not laws that allow those same criminals to return to our communities years before their sentences are complete,' added Donnelly, who is holding a press conference Monday announcing her opposition to the bills. Among the bills drawing concern is the Elder Parole bill — which would require inmates aged 55 and older who have served at least 15 years of their sentence to be considered for early release, regardless of the seriousness of the crime committed. The measure is sponsored by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) and Assemblywoman Maritza Davila (D-Brooklyn). Another bill, the Earned Time Act, would make most violent felons eligible for time allowance credits, potentially slashing their prison sentences in half, Donnelly said. The earned time bill is sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) and Assemblywoman Anna Kelles (D-Ithaca). A third bill — the Second Look Act — would permit prisoners to petition the courts for a sentence reduction after serving 10 years, including inmates convicted of violent crimes. The legislation is promoted by Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brooklyn). GOP Long Island lawmakers oppose the early parole bills, including Assemblyman Edward Ra and Sen. Jack Martins. Crime victims' advocate Madeline Brame, whose Army Sergeant son Hason Correa was murdered in a scuffle outside a Harlem apartment building seven years ago, expressed outrage at the proposals to give violent cons a break. 'These proposals completely disregard the pain and effort that go into holding criminals accountable,' she said. 'We need to help prosecutors put violent offenders behind bars — not give criminals new waysto get out early.' Gov. Kathy Hochul toyed with early release proposals in April as a way to try to alleviate the prison population amid an illegal prison guard strike and a staffing shortage. She was forced to bring in the National Guard to staff the prisons. She proposed opening eligibility for merit time in the state budget, then backed down after it was revealed doing so could lead to people who were in for violent crimes to be released early. Donnelly was among those who raised the alarm. Inmate advocates have pushed for early parole and other reforms after prisoners were allegedly killed at the hands of guards over the past year.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Nassau DA warns of Albany push to approve early parole for violent convicts
The Democratic-run New York state legislature could rush through a series of bills to give convicts early parole and prevent law enforcement from keeping dangerous criminals off the streets, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly warned Sunday. In recent years, Democrats clawed back controversial cashless bail and discovery laws after serial criminals were let loose, triggering massive political blowback. 'These bills undercut everything we work for every day — building strong cases, securing convictions, and ensuring justice is served,' Donnelly, a Republican up for re-election this fall, told The Post. Advertisement 3 Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. Brigitte Stelzer 'When prosecutors do the hard work of putting violent offenders behind bars, we should be backed by laws that protect that progress — not laws that allow those same criminals to return to our communities years before their sentences are complete,' added Donnelly, who is holding a press conference Monday announcing her opposition to the bills. Among the bills drawing concern is the Elder Parole bill — which would require inmates aged 55 and older who have served at least 15 years of their sentence to be considered for early release, regardless of the seriousness of the crime committed. Advertisement The measure is sponsored by Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D-Manhattan) and Assemblywoman Maritza Davila (D-Brooklyn). Another bill, the Earned Time Act, would make most violent felons eligible for time allowance credits, potentially slashing their prison sentences in half, Donnelly said. The earned time bill is sponsored by Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) and Assemblywoman Anna Kelles (D-Ithaca). 3 Madeline Brame's son, Hason Correa, was murdered in a scuffle outside a Harlem apartment building seven years ago. Steven Hirsch Advertisement A third bill — the Second Look Act — would permit prisoners to petition the courts for a sentence reduction after serving 10 years, including inmates convicted of violent crimes. The legislation is promoted by Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker (D-Brooklyn). GOP Long Island lawmakers oppose the early parole bills, including Assemblyman Edward Ra and Sen. Jack Martins. 3 The New York State Capitol building. Hans Pennink for the NY Post Advertisement Crime victims' advocate Madeline Brame, whose Army Sergeant son Hason Correa was murdered in a scuffle outside a Harlem apartment building seven years ago, expressed outrage at the proposals to give violent cons a break. 'These proposals completely disregard the pain and effort that go into holding criminals accountable,' she said. 'We need to help prosecutors put violent offenders behind bars — not give criminals new ways to get out early.' Gov. Kathy Hochul toyed with early release proposals in April as a way to try to alleviate the prison population amid an illegal prison guard strike and a staffing shortage. She was forced to bring in the National Guard to staff the prisons. She proposed opening eligibility for merit time in the state budget, then backed down after it was revealed doing so could lead to people who were in for violent crimes to be released early. Donnelly was among those who raised the alarm. Inmate advocates have pushed for early parole and other reforms after prisoners were allegedly killed at the hands of guards over the past year.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Yahoo
Inmate, 61, in upstate N.Y. prison dies in midst of correction officers' wildcat strike
A state prisoner died early Saturday at Auburn Correctional Facility in the Finger Lakes region — in the midst of the correction officers' wildcat strike now entering its seventh day — amid allegations he did not receive medical care the previous night. Jonathan Grant, 61, was found unresponsive in his cell early Saturday at the 200-year-old maximum security prison in Auburn, N.Y., which has been operating at about 58% of capacity since well before the strike, a statement from prison officials said. A member of the National Guard, which has been deployed because of the strike, and facility medical staff and later paramedics tried to revive him, the officials said. But he could not be saved. Grant was declared dead at 8:32 a.m., the officials said. His cause of death is unknown and the circumstances are under investigation. At least 4,500 National Guardsmen have been deployed to state prisons across New York in response to the unsanctioned strike that began Monday. The strike started three days before murder charges were unsealed Thursday against six officers in the Dec. 9 fatal beating of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility. Grant had been in prison since August 2011 on a 34-to-40-year sentence for a rape and burglary conviction in Brooklyn, records show. The exact circumstances surrounding Grant's death were unclear late Saturday, but advocates were circulating a Facebook post by a relative of another man held at Auburn that claimed Grant had sought medical assistance prior to being discovered unresponsive. Grant's death drove home concerns in some quarters about the effect of the strike on the people held in prison. 'The correctional staff on strike bear responsibility for this death,' said Anthony Dixon, deputy director of Parole Prep and an activist on prison issues. Dixon called on the state to temporarily close prisons where officers are on strike and move the inmate population to facilities closer to New York City. 'This action would send a clear message: Job security is directly tied to staff commitment and operational responsibility,' he said. Negotiations between the state and the correction officers via their union are continuing. In a statement earlier Saturday, state officials said the striking officers were being docked pay each day they refuse to return to work, and are losing their healthcare coverage. They will also be brought up on disciplinary charges, the statement said. Dixon also called on the state Legislature to pass the Elder Parole bill, which increases chances for prisoners above the age of 55 to win their parole. At 61, Grant would have qualified. 'The issue is not understaffing but over-incarceration. Passing the Elder Parole bill would directly relieve [the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision], particularly the urgent medical needs of elderly individuals during strikes,' he said, noting one in four people in prison is above the age threshold. The bill has been struck in the Legislature since it was first introduced in 2018.
