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Senator Griffo and State Senate
Republican Conference Unveil Parole Reform Package
Published: June 02, 2021 at
11:00 a.m.
By: Press Release from Senator Griffo’s
Office (June 01, 2021)
Griffo: Majorities should put needs everyday New Yorkers
before violent criminals
New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-I-C-Rome,
and members of the Senate Republican Conference today unveiled a parole
reform package designed to protect crime victims by fixing the Governor’s
out-of-control Parole Board and keeping violent criminals behind bars.
Included in the package of bills is Senate Bill 4197, which was introduced
by Sen. Griffo. The bill authorizes the state
Parole Board to require a violent felony offender to serve his or her
maximum term, if, by clear and convincing evidence, release would pose an
imminent threat to society. Additionally, it authorizes the withholding of
good behavior allowances of violent felony offenders by the state board of
parole upon such a finding.
“Individuals who have proven that they are capable of hurting other people
and/or those who have admitted they would likely undertake violent actions
again should not be allowed back on the street without serving their full
prison sentence,” Sen. Griffo said. “Victims
of a future crimes don’t want to hear that, despite every warning the
perpetrator would strike again, a dangerous criminal was allowed to walk
free before their prison time was complete.”
Other key components of the Republican Parole Reform Package include:
· S.2046 (Tedisco):
Requires that all victim impact statements in New York State be video
recorded; requires that the members of the parole board review all relevant
victim impact statements prior to the conduct of a parole hearing.
· S.2261 (Gallivan): Provides that any person
interested in the grant or denial of discretionary release shall have the
right to submit a written statement of views in support of or in opposition
to the granting of discretionary release, which the parole board may
consider.
· S.2663 (Ritchie): Requires that all comments
and testimony made by a third party either in support or opposition in a
parole hearing shall be considered when coming to a decision; adds provisions
relating to confidentiality of victim statements.
· S.3716 (Ortt):
Allows for the removal of members of the state board of parole by a
majority vote in the senate and the assembly, requires three or more
members of such board personally interview potential parolees; requires
that the determination to parole an inmate be unanimous.
· S.4649 (Akshar):
Requires that the parole board provide for the making of a verbatim record
of each parole release interview and each preliminary or final revocation
hearing within forty-five days after such interview or hearing; removes
certain exceptions.
· S.5175 (Palumbo): Enacts “Lorraine's Law” -
increases from twenty-four to sixty months, the time for which
reconsideration for parole for a violent felony offense shall be
determined.
· S.6249 (Jordan): Requires unanimous agreement
by the parole board to release an inmate on parole.
Furthermore, under proposals put forward by the majorities, New York’s most
dangerous criminals could automatically be eligible for parole, regardless
of the severity of the crime or prior sentencing. Some of these names
include:
· David Berkowitz, aka the “Son of Sam:”
Murdered six people and wounded seven others in a spree of shootings that
occurred in 1976 and 1977 in New York City - sentenced 25 years to life.
· Mark David Chapman: Murdered John Lennon in
1980 - sentenced 20 years to life. Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono has previously
urged the Parole Board to keep Chapman in prison.
· Colin Ferguson: Murdered six people and
wounded 19 others in a shooting rampage on the Long Island Railroad in
December 1993 - sentenced to 315 years to life in prison.
· Joel Rifkin: Murdered at least nine women in
New York City and Long Island, but is suspected of killing 17 women total
between 1989 and 1993 - sentenced to 203 years to life in prison.
“The legislative majorities in Albany continue to advance policies that
could release New York’s most dangerous criminals, some of whom have spent
time locally while in prison,” Sen. Griffo
said. “We’ve seen how changing the bail laws have caused problems
and potentially jeopardized public safety. It’s time for the NY legislature
to put the public safety and well-being of New Yorkers before the needs of
criminals and those incarcerated for unspeakable acts of violence.”
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