Parole and sentencing reform left out of omnibus prison reform bill

In the wake of Robert Brooks’ death at the hands of corrections officers at Marcy Correctional Facility late last year, lawmakers in Albany are now set to approve a new omnibus bill meant to increase oversight and transparency for state prisons. But despite a push by criminal justice reform advocates and some lawmakers, the package of measures don’t include parole or sentencing reform proposals they had hoped would finally move amid increased scrutiny of the prison system.

State Sen. Julia Salazar and Assembly Member Erik Dilan introduced legislation Monday evening that included 10 different measures, most of which were also part of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus’ recently released prison reform plan named for Brooks. Some criminal justice reform advocates celebrated the bill for including their priorities…