June 2021

Reviewing This Year’s Legislative Session

The New York State legislative session ended early Friday with some significant victories that will lessen perpetual punishment. Sadly, the session also ended without any legislation that actually brings anyone home from prison, a heartfelt disappointment, given a super-majority and many legislators truly committed to justice reform.

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The New York State legislative session ended early Friday with some significant victories that will lessen perpetual punishment. Sadly, the session also ended without any legislation that actually brings anyone home from prison, a heartfelt disappointment, given a super-majority and many legislators truly committed to justice reform.
This turn of events is especially discouraging in light of the extraordinary organizing in support of parole reforms led by formerly incarcerated people and the children and families of those currently and formerly incarcerated, those who suffer the greatest impact of extreme sentences that keep older people over 50 years old in state prisons. Incarcerated individuals over 50 now make up fully 25 percent of the incarcerated population.
We applaud the passage of the Less is More Act that restricts the use of incarceration for non-criminal technical parole violations and requires expedited hearings. Unfortunately, neither the Elder Parole bill nor the Fair and Timely Parole bill were brought for a vote, despite their incredible progress gaining broad support from electeds and diverse constituencies. It was equally disheartening that our persistent work on the bill to Protect In-Person Visiting, which passed in the Senate in May, never made it to the Assembly floor for a vote.

We had reason to be optimistic. Earlier in the session, Governor Cuomo signed the repeal of the “Walking While Trans” law that reduces the harassment and criminalization of transgender people by police, and the HALT Solitary Act, which significantly restricts the use of solitary confinement in jails and prisons. The Community Violence Intervention Act passed as part of the State budget, making New York the first state to declare gun violence a public health crisis and establishing a fund for community-based violence interruption and intervention programs. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act legalizes adult-use cannabis, eliminating another way in which law enforcement disproportionately targets Black and Brown New Yorkers. And in what we trust is a turning point in recognizing that words matter and that everyone is worthy of dignity and respect, the Humanizing Language bill also passed, replacing the term “inmate” with “incarcerated individual” in New York State law.
The young leaders who make up Osborne’s Youth Action Council fuel our commitment to continue this fight and pass these bills next session. Youth Action Council (YAC) members, ages 15 to 18, have experienced a parent’s incarceration. This year, they courageously channeled their personal experiences on behalf of the Protect In-Person Visiting Bill that proactively ensures New York’s jails and prisons cannot reduce or eliminate in-person visits in favor of video conferencing. In-person visiting is critically important for families and especially for children. As one YAC member shared, “seeing a parent in person brings joy and happiness you don’t experience on a video call.”

On May 9, the YAC hosted their “Visiting is a Lifeline” press conference to rally support for the bill alongside state Senator Julia Salazar, Assemblymember David Weprin, and “Orange is the New Black” star Taylor Schilling. More than one hundred people attended the virtual event, and more than 600 people have streamed the event online since. Although the law won’t change this year, the YAC has laid the foundation for the future passage of the bill, and amplified the importance of in-person visiting to families and young people.
While we are dismayed, we are also unstoppable. No state official could have missed the rising movement of families, organizations, and intergenerational advocates. Nor could they ignore the tireless efforts of the People’s Campaign For Parole Justice, and the Justice Roadmap; Osborne is a proud member of both. We thank the bill sponsors, the growing number of cosponsors, and the Chairs of the Corrections Committees in the Senate and Assembly.
La lucha continua… y continua y continua,
Our hearts are with the family and friends of Herb Sturz, whose body - but not spirit - left the earth this week at age 90. Herb was a big reason for New York City having the strongest community of nonprofit criminal justice organizations in the country. He founded the Vera Institute of Justice which seeded other organizations, and all of us benefited from Herb’s vision, persistence and mentoring. Herb Sturz Presente!
Events & Opportunities
Join the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution’s “Uplifting the Voices of Formerly Incarcerated Women & Trans Women“ on Tuesday, June 15. Grace DeTrevarah, Osborne’s LGBT Liaison & Senior Reentry Peer in Wellness & Prevention Dept, is a panel member.
The Human Services Council of New York City’s Human Services Recovery Taskforce met for many months to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the human services sector and to identify recommendations for how organizations can both recover and reset the role and sustainability of New York’s nonprofits. Osborne’s board chair Jamie S. Rubin co-chaired the Task Force and our CEO/President Elizabeth Gaynes served as a Task Force member. You can download the report of their findings here.
As the legislative session closes, Osborne’s NY Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents turns to the planning of October’s See Us, Support Us, the annual month of awareness-raising and events to increase visibility and supports for children of incarcerated parents. The campaign is currently seeking a Youth Fellow to join the team in a paid position this summer.
On Thursday, June 17 from 1pm to 9pm, the second annual Bronx LGBT Expo will take place at 2134 Barnes Avenue in the Bronx. In addition to performances, vendors, and panels, the event is a tribute to the life and legacy of Jose Ramon, creator of the White Shirt Project and the Bronx LGBT Expo. Email cpacheco@recoveriesrus.org for information or call 718-496-1589.