RAPP Campaign

Release Aging People in Prison Campaign

Zellnor Myrie

Hochul grants clemency, pardoning 11 and commuting 2

Johan Sheridan / News 10 — Governor Kathy Hochul of New York granted clemency to 13 individuals, reducing the prison sentences of two men and pardoning 11 others. The governor has granted 120 clemencies since taking office in 2021, but advocates say this is too slow to address the backlog of almost 1,800 pending applications and rising death toll inside state prisons. The commutations and pardons were given to people who have demonstrated remorse, rehabilitation, and improvement in themselves and their communities...

Read moreHochul grants clemency, pardoning 11 and commuting 2

New York Prison Officers Launch Massive Strike — What Happens Next?

Shantel Destra / New York NOW — For the past several days, corrections officers at prisons across the state have been on strike. Officers are calling for a full repeal of the HALT act, which limits the use of solitary confinement in prisons. At the top of the week, Governor Kathy Hochul said that her administration has tried to negotiate, but would be moving forward with legal proceedings against the officers. 
By late Thursday, Hochul and the officers union came to a tentative agreement, which meant a 90-day pause on the HALT act. At this time, officers are reviewing the terms of that agreement...

Read moreNew York Prison Officers Launch Massive Strike — What Happens Next?

Parole bills advance in NY Legislature

By: Rebecca C. Lewis and Shantel Destra, City & State New York - As state lawmakers sort out their end-of-session priorities, parole reform appears to be on the agenda for both chambers. The state Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee voted to advance legislation meant to make it easier for incarcerated people to get considered for parole. And the Assembly Correction Committee was set to move that bill, along with another that would make elderly inmates eligible to get parole.

Read moreParole bills advance in NY Legislature

NY LAWMAKERS, MOTHERS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, OTHER SURVIVORS OF OR CRIME VICTIMS & ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE GROUPS GATHERED AT NY CAPITOL TO CALL FOR PAROLE JUSTICE & SURVIVOR JUSTICE BILLS

April 25, 2022: Press Release SPEAKERS CALLED FOR PASSAGE OF THE ELDER PAROLE, FAIR & TIMELY PAROLE, AND FAIR ACCESS TO VICTIM COMPENSATION BILLS TO PROMOTE HEALING AND SAFETY AS …

Read moreNY LAWMAKERS, MOTHERS OF MURDERED CHILDREN, OTHER SURVIVORS OF OR CRIME VICTIMS & ANTI-GUN VIOLENCE GROUPS GATHERED AT NY CAPITOL TO CALL FOR PAROLE JUSTICE & SURVIVOR JUSTICE BILLS

REV. AL SHARPTON, REP. BOWMAN, LEADING STATE LAWMAKERS & FAMILIES IMPACTED BY MASS INCARCERATION HELD VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR PAROLE JUSTICE IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February 8, 2022: Press Release As Part of the ‘Parole Justice is Racial Justice’ Virtual Advocacy Day with 650 Participants from Across NY State, Speakers Called for Passage of the …

Read moreREV. AL SHARPTON, REP. BOWMAN, LEADING STATE LAWMAKERS & FAMILIES IMPACTED BY MASS INCARCERATION HELD VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR PAROLE JUSTICE IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH