Parole Changes Unlikely to Cross the Finish Line

While there is support for Elder Parole and Fair and Timely Parole among Democrats in the State Legislature, neither bill is expected to pass this year, as lawmakers were unable to reach a deal. 

The advocacy group Release Aging People in Prison, also known as RAPP, has been in Albany since the start of this week pushing for the passage of both measures. RAPP held another rally as a last-ditch effort Thursday — the last day of this year’s session.

Advocate Donna Robinson said that despite whatever challenges they face, they’ll continue to speak out. 

“You are taking that sentence that they’ve been given, that says ‘life’ on the end, and you’re turning it into a death sentence,” Robinson said. “And I’ve said it from the beginning, and I will keep saying it, until God says I can’t say it any more.”

The group also slept overnight in West Capitol Park on Tuesday to bring attention to the issue. Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, D-Queens said it’s also a fiscal issue.

“It is unjust, it is inhumane, and we must change the system. It costs more to incarcerate somebody, than to give them an education, and as Donna said, we are wasting money,” she said. 

While those two bills likely won’t pass, the “Less is More” bill, limiting punishments of technical parole violations, passed both houses of the Legislature on Thursday.