Revocation of Parole in New York State
When on parole or post-release supervision (“PRS”), a person is at liberty after serving time in prison. The parolee is under the supervision of a parole officer (“P.O.”) and must follow certain condi...
Domestic Abuse Survivors to Receive More Consideration At Sentencing
On May 14, New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA). The law would, among other measures, give judges more discretion when sentencing surviv...
Calls Recorded By Jails Can Be Used By Prosecutors
If you’ve ever received calls from someone in jail or prison, you’ve likely heard a recording prior to accepting the call. And it usually states that the phone call will be monitored and recorded....
Additional Reforms in the NY Criminal Justice System
As discussed in last week's blog, the legislature recently passed sweeping bail and discovery reforms. There are also several other reforms taking place. Here, we discuss a few more of the changes to...
Civil Commitment of Sex Offenders
In New York, some persons who have committed sex offenses are considered too dangerous to live the community. This is even after they’ve served the prison sentence for their offense. These individuals...
Electronic Monitoring and Other Forms of “e-Carceration”
In a move to end mass incarceration, “e-carceration” is on the rise. E-carceration refers to different types of technology to gather information to constrain the liberty of those subject to such devic...
Parole Board Hearings in New York
If you have a loved one in prison, you may often think about if there is any way for him/her to be released from prison early. One way for your loved one to get home sooner is for him/her to have a su...
Kendra’s Law – Getting Mental Health Treatment for Those Leaving Prison
Not everyone with a serious mental illness needs to be committed to a psychiatric facility. In fact, many (if not most) people with serious mental illness can function well in their communities with t...
Keeping In Touch With Imprisoned Loved Ones
While maintaining contact with a loved one in prison can be difficult and emotionally taxing, staying connected can make a huge difference in their life. Prisons are impersonal and can often strip ind...
New York’s Governor Issues Order to Restore Voting Rights to Parolees
Across the country, approximately 6 million people are disenfranchised because of a felony conviction. Strides are being made to change this, however, as it was recently announced that that New York's...
The Neglect of Imprisoned Individuals with Physical Disabilities
While being convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of incarceration is difficult for everyone, for individuals with physical disabilities it can be that much more challenging. Unfortunately, dis...
Understand the Prevalence of Hepatitis C in Prisons and Treatment Access
There are over 2 million people serving sentences in US jails and prisons. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 incarcerated persons has Hepatitis C. This viral infection is characterized by the swelling or i...