Mass Incarceration Archives | Page 4 of 9

As Assembly Passes Wrongful Convictions Bill, Advocates and Exonerees Rally in Albany to Demand Action in Senate

Contact: Mitch Schwartz, (914) 330-1026 As Assembly Passes Wrongful Convictions Bill, Advocates and Exonerees Rally in Albany to Demand Action in Senate Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act gives wrongfully-convicted New Yorkers the chance to prove their innocence ALBANY–Exonerees, advocates, and elected officials, energized by the Assembly’s passage of the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act (S.215 / A.278) […]

As Assembly Passes Wrongful Convictions Bill, Advocates and Exonerees Rally in Albany to Demand Action in Senate Read More »

VOCAL-NY 2022 ANNUAL REPORT

Annual Report / By Mariah McGough

We entered 2022 riding the highs of the previous year, our most successful New YorkState legislative session ever. We knew we had our work cut out for us. Stateand city budgets placed an emphasis on gutting essential services forlow-income New Yorkers and prioritizing investments in criminalization,incarceration, and lining the pockets of the wealthiest. While elected

VOCAL-NY 2022 ANNUAL REPORT Read More »

news 12 the bronx: former inmates and lawmakers hold bail reform rally:

In the News / By Jada Shannon

Lezandre Kahadu was at the protest and says her son died in jail and she’s still seeking justice. She says Hochul’s planned pushback would be a “smack in her face.” “She’s putting more parents in the boat I’m in,” Kahadu says. “You keep putting these people in a place where people are dying.” Some groups

news 12 the bronx: former inmates and lawmakers hold bail reform rally: Read More »

VOCAL-NY Celebrates Progressive Victory in Chicago Mayoral Run-Off

Press Statements / By Mariah McGough

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY CELEBRATES PROGRESSIVE VICTORY IN CHICAGO MAYORAL RUN-OFF New York State Leadership is on Notice: Voters Want Progress, and We Won’t Settle for the Status Quo or Punitive Crime Policies of Decades Past NEW YORK — In response to Progressive Brandon Johnson being elected as Chicago’s next mayor, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to

VOCAL-NY Celebrates Progressive Victory in Chicago Mayoral Run-Off Read More »

NEW YORK FOCUS: HOCHUL QUIETLY BETS ON POLICE TO BATTLE FENTANYL:

In the News / By Jada Shannon

To Jasmine Budnella, director of drug policy at VOCAL-NY, the rhetoric around breaking up supply chains is a repackaging of the same policies that have historically targeted drug users. “The way that Governor Hochul was framing it was like we would go after the Pablo Escobars of the world. But in reality, we know who

NEW YORK FOCUS: HOCHUL QUIETLY BETS ON POLICE TO BATTLE FENTANYL: Read More »

AMSTERDAM NEWS: CHALLENGING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ACT TAKES NEXT STEP AFTER PASSING IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY:

In the News / By Jada Shannon

VOCAL-NY community leader Roger Clark says the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act would help him clear his name. “If it becomes law today, it will simply open up the door for me to get back into court [to] have a hearing, get discovery and—after my lawyers look through everything—have a long conversation about what’s the best

AMSTERDAM NEWS: CHALLENGING WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ACT TAKES NEXT STEP AFTER PASSING IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY: Read More »

State Assembly Passes the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act

Press Statements / By Mariah McGough

Contact: Mitch Schwartz, (914) 330-1026 State Assembly Passes the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act Major step toward giving wrongfully-convicted New Yorkers the chance to prove their innocence ALBANY–The New York State Assembly passed the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act (S. 215 / A. 2878) yesterday, a major step toward giving wrongfully-convicted New Yorkers a chance to clear

State Assembly Passes the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act Read More »

VOCAL-NY Applauds NYS Senate and Assembly for Prioritizing Housing and Overdose Prevention in Budget Proposals

Press Statements / By Mariah McGough

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY APPLAUDS NYS SENATE AND ASSEMBLY FOR PRIORITIZING HOUSING AND OVERDOSE PREVENTION IN BUDGET PROPOSALS After Weeks of Advocacy in Albany, State Lawmakers Heard Concerns and Addressed Them in Their One-House Budget Proposals NEW YORK — Today, in response to the release of the Senate and Assembly One-House Budgets, VOCAL-NY released the following statement,

VOCAL-NY Applauds NYS Senate and Assembly for Prioritizing Housing and Overdose Prevention in Budget Proposals Read More »

GOTHAMIST: NY lawmakers reinvigorate push to upend wrongful convictions:

In the News / By Jada Shannon

“I was bullied into pleading guilty to something that I didn’t do and that conviction has had a negative impact on my life,” Eileen Maher, a community leader at VOCAL-NY, said in a statement. “It’s not right that now I have no recourse to vacate the conviction even if I can now prove that I

GOTHAMIST: NY lawmakers reinvigorate push to upend wrongful convictions: Read More »

VOCAL-NY Responds to Mayor Adams’ State of the City

Press Statements / By Mariah McGough

CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org VOCAL-NY RESPONDS TO MAYOR ADAMS’ STATE OF THE CITY See VOCAL-NY’s 2023 Policy Platform for Mayor Adams and the New York City Council NEW YORK — Today, in response to Mayor Adams second annual State of the City, VOCAL-NY released the following statement, attributable to Jawanza Williams, VOCAL-NY Director of Organizing: “Today we heard little about

VOCAL-NY Responds to Mayor Adams’ State of the City Read More »

Mass Incarceration

Light the way to a healthy and just 2025!