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STATEMENT – COMMUNITY GROUPS LEADING #LESSISMORENY COALITION RESPOND TO COLUMBIA JUSTICE LAB’S RACIAL INEQUITIES IN NY PAROLE SUPERVISION REPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 

Yan Snead, ysnead@katalcenter.org | 518.360.1534

 

Community Groups Leading the #LessIsMoreNY Coalition Respond to Columbia Justice Lab’s Racial Inequities in New York Parole Supervision Report

 

Report Explores How New York’s Parole System Disproportionately Harms People of Color, Albany Must Act and Pass #LessIsMoreNY

 

The new report from the Columbia Justice Lab, Racial Inequities in New York Parole Supervision, concluded that New York’s parole system disproportionately harms people of color. Furthermore, the report shows that New York imprisons more people for egregious technical parole violations than all but one state, Illinois. 

Community groups leading the #LessIsMoreNY coalition released the following statement, attributable to A Little Piece of Light, Katal Center for Health, Equity, and Justice, and Unchained: 

“The numbers and stories speak for themselves – it’s time to pass comprehensive parole reform, starting with the Less Is More bill. For too long, people of color have been targeted by a broken, discriminatory parole system. According to the Justice Lab’s study, Black and Latinx people are subjected to parole supervision at 6.8 and 2.5 times the rate of white people. Moreover, the supervision of these people is fueled by technical violations designed to reincarcerate individuals, often communities of color, for minor ‘infractions’ like missing an appointment, being out past curfew, or associating with other people with a criminal record.

The New York State Legislature must immediately take action by passing the Less Is More: Community Supervision Revocation Reform Act (S.1343B – Benjamin / A.5493A – Mosley) to overhaul the state’s outdated, discriminatory, and destructive parole system, shutter Rikers Island once and for all, and provide the reentry support people need to successfully transition back home after periods of incarceration. New Yorkers can no longer wait.”

 

About the Less is More NY Campaign:

The Less is More NY Campaign is a coalition of groups working to pass the Less is More: Community Supervision Revocation Reform Act (S.1343B – Benjamin / A.5493A – Mosley), developed by people on parole, people currently incarcerated, family members, and groups across New York. Passing this bill would be an important step in the fight to end mass incarceration and mass supervision by restricting the use of incarceration in response to parole violations and promoting early discharge from community supervision. For more information visit: www.lessismoreny.org  

For comments by people impacted by parole, please contact Yan Snead at ysnead@katalcenter.org or at 518.360.1534.

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