October 28, 2020: New York, New York
Governor Cuomo Has Granted Fewer Clemencies to People in Prison During COVID-19 Pandemic than Racist President Donald Trump
Today, Governor Cuomo and Secretary DeRosa told members of the media that the governor has “already done clemencies and have been very aggressive about it especially in light of COVID.” However, the governor has granted only three clemencies during the seven months of pandemic response, fewer than the five clemencies granted by racist President Donald Trump on October 21, 2020. Right now, there are over 22,000 people incarcerated in state prisons who are older, within a year of release, currently parole eligible, and/or incarcerated for a technical parole violation. In response to the governor’s misleading statements, Center for Community Alternatives, The #HALTsolitary Campaign, and Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) Campaign released the following statement:
“With an unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak in Elmira and other New York State prisons, now is the time to stop playing politics and start saving lives. The Cuomo Administration’s few and limited measures are failing to protect incarcerated people and the communities surrounding prisons, evident in the current unprecedented virus outbreaks. New Yorkers need real action. We demand that the Governor immediately grant emergency clemencies and work with the Legislature to pass Elder Parole, Fair & Timely Parole, and the HALT Solitary Confinement Act to address this worsening crisis once and for all. The lives of countless New Yorkers are at stake.”
- BACKGROUND:
- There are 22,142 people in New York State prisons who are eligible for parole release, aged 50 and older, imprisoned on a non-criminal technical parole violation, and/or within a year of their release date:
- 4,022 people who are already eligible for parole release
- 3,305 people held on technical parole violation
- 8,291 people aged 50 and older
- 6,524 within a year of max/condition release
- Rather than releasing all vulnerable people and significantly reducing the prison population, Governor Cuomo’s prison agency has been locking anyone who reports symptoms in solitary confinement.