The undersigned join in strong support of the recent determination by the Parole Board to grant release to Mr. Herman Bell. This decision is the right outcome in this case based on the criteria used to determine parole.
Continue reading...On February 1, Mayor Bill DeBlasio’s office announced a $6 million investment intended to support women incarcerated at Rikers Island facilities, and lessen the chance that they return. First Lady Chirlane McCray is leading the charge to improve the frequency and quality of family visits for women on Rikers, as well as broadening mental health and transitional career counseling.
Continue reading...This week, Governor Andrew Cuomo presented his FY 2019 Executive Budget, including proposals aimed at increasing fairness in the criminal justice system. The budget includes needed and humane reforms to New York’s systems of arrest, prosecution, incarceration, and reentry, as well as funding for treatment to address the opioid epidemic and support for implementing last year's legislation that raised the age of entry into the adult criminal justice system. The proposal for geriatric parole is not just cost-effective and logical, it holds the promise of beginning to undo a system of endless punishment that keeps people—including those sentenced for violent crimes—in prison for decades regardless of their remorse, rehabilitation, and readiness to contribute to the community. Unfortunately, no additional funding has been allocated for Alternatives to Incarceration.
Osborne participant Carlos Rodriguez recently shared his experience of meeting Osborne while incarcerated at Queensboro Correctional Facility and his journey to gaining employment with Osborne's Career Center Instructor Henry Guiden. Carlos (right) and Henry are pictured above with Carlos's certificate of completion of Project Renewal's culinary arts program.
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