Tag:

Criminal Justice Reform

Hudson Valley Sex Offender Charged With Violent Assault, Cops Say Hudson Valley Sex Offender Charged With Violent Assault, Cops Say
Hudson Valley Sex Offender Charged With Violent Assault, Cops Say Police in the Hudson Valley have charged a sex offender with a violent assault and robbery of a man after it was caught on a public camera system. The incident took place in Orange County around 11:10 a.m., Sunday, March 12 in the area of 8-10 Main Street in Middletown. According to Lt. Jeffry Thoelen of the Middletown Police, officers responded to the area after receiving a call reporting a fight. Using the public camera system located at the front desk of the police department, Sgt. Jordan McInerney saw a Black man lying on top of another man on the sidewalk, violently assaulti…
New Poll Reveals Who NYers Favor In Governor's Race Based On Inflation, Crime, Abortion New Poll Reveals Who NYers Favor In Governor's Race Based On Inflation, Crime, Abortion
New Poll Reveals Who NYers Favor In Governor's Race Based On Inflation, Crime, Abortion As Election Day draws nearer, new polling is highlighting the issues that are top of mind for New York voters when choosing their next governor. Overall, incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul leads her Republican opponent, Rep. Lee Zeldin, by six points, 47 to 41 percent, according to a SurveyUSA poll released Thursday, Oct. 20. Earlier Report: Zeldin Holds Edge Over Hochul In NY's Suburbs, Among Independents In Brand-New Poll Four percent of likely voters said they plan to vote for another candidate, while 8 percent were undecided. Hochul’s lead has shrunk dramatically from August …
Harckham, Astorino Trade Barbs Over Parole For Killer Of Lewisboro Moms Harckham, Astorino Trade Barbs Over Parole For Killer Of Lewisboro Moms
Harckham, Astorino Trade Barbs Over Parole For Killer Of Lewisboro Moms State Sen. Peter Harckham and Republican challenger Rob Astorino traded barbs over the New York State Parole Board's recent decision to release Sam Ayala, convicted for murdering two Northern Westchester mothers in their homes in 1977 within earshot of their children.  Earlier story - Parole Of Man In Rape/Murder Case Of Two Northern Westchester Women Sparks Outrage Harckham and Astorino are battling it out in the race for the 40th district, which includes parts of Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess. "The New York State Parole Board should resign in disgrace after voting to re…
Pressure Grows For State Attorney General To Probe Police-Involved Westchester Shooting Pressure Grows For State Attorney General To Probe Police-Involved Westchester Shooting
Pressure Grows For State Attorney General To Probe Police-Involved Westchester Shooting Pressure is mounting on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General Letitia James to launch an outside investigation into a fatal police-involved shooting in Westchester. Earlier story - Video Released Of Police-Involved Shooting In Westchester Police in New Rochelle attempted to stop a vehicle in which 24-year-old city resident Kamal Flowers shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday, June 5. When the vehicle stopped, Flowers took off on foot fleeing at the intersection of Potter Avenue and Pierce Street. It is alleged that after a struggle with officers, Flowers displayed a handgun and attempt…
Move To Scale Back New York's Hotly Contested Cash Bail System Added To State Budget Move To Scale Back New York's Hotly Contested Cash Bail System Added To State Budget
Move To Scale Back New York's Hotly Contested Cash Bail System Added To State Budget New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state lawmakers are scaling back the state’s cash bail system that has angered law enforcement officials since the measures took effect at the start of the year. An agreement was struck that added a number of new misdemeanor and felony crimes to the long list of those subject to a cash bail order. The lawmakers are expected to approve the measure on Thursday, April 2 as part of the state budget. The previous bail reforms went into effect in January, which no longer permitted judges to demand cash bail for non-violent misdemeanor crimes, no exceptions. Bail cou…
NY Lessens Penalties For Marijuana Possession NY Lessens Penalties For Marijuana Possession
NY Lessens Penalties For Marijuana Possession New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a new bill that will further decriminalize marijuana use in the Empire State. The new legislation will “make enforcement fairer and more equitable by reducing the penalty for unlawful possession of marijuana to a violation punishable by a fine and removing criminal penalties for possession fo any amount of marijuana under two ounces. "Communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by-laws governing marijuana for far too long, and today we are ending this injustice once and for all," Cuomo said in a statement.  "By providi…
New Marijuana Prosecution Policy To Take Effect In Westchester, DA Says New Marijuana Prosecution Policy To Take Effect In Westchester, DA Says
New Marijuana Prosecution Policy To Take Effect In Westchester, DA Says As lawmakers move to legalize recreational marijuana use in New York, Westchester County District Attorney Anthony Scarpino Jr. announced changes to how lower level marijuana offenses will be prosecuted. Beginning on Monday, Jan. 14,  violations for marijuana possession will no longer be prosecuted and misdemeanor possession of marijuana will be prosecuted as violations. Under the new policy, the possession of small amounts (2 ounces or less) of marijuana will no longer result in a criminal conviction negating the collateral damage such a conviction might impose, Scarpino sai…
State AG Candidates Vow To Take On Corruption In Albany At Forum In Westchester State AG Candidates Vow To Take On Corruption In Albany At Forum In Westchester
State AG Candidates Vow To Take On Corruption In Albany At Forum In Westchester Candidates for Attorney General and state Senate visited the Mediterranean Political Action Committee in Yonkers on Thursday to discuss statewide issues. The election is Nov. 6. Democrat Letitia "Tish" James and Green Party Candidate Michael Sussman spoke at the forum, discussing the criminalizaing of mental illness, criminal justice reform, corruption in Albany, gender and race.Republican Keith Wofford did not attend.  "Mental illness should not be a crime, and poverty should not be a crime," James said.  Sussman pointed out that 40 elected officials have been prosecu…
Westchester Children's Association Welcomes New Executive Director Westchester Children's Association Welcomes New Executive Director
Westchester Children's Association Welcomes New Executive Director The Board of Directors of Westchester Children’s Association (WCA) announced the selection of Allison Lake as the organization’s new executive director. Lake’s appointment, which is effective July 1, comes as the result of a lengthy executive search process. She will succeed longtime Executive Director Cora Greenberg, who is retiring.  Lake joined the 104-year-old advocacy organization in 1998 as program director and was promoted to deputy director in 2008. As deputy director, Lake oversaw all of WCA’s program initiatives, and also managed a number of core, administrative functions. One of…
Gov. Cuomo Touts Progressive Agenda At State Of State Address Gov. Cuomo Touts Progressive Agenda At State Of State Address
Gov. Cuomo Touts Progressive Agenda At State Of State Address New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York was once again the nation's vanguard for social justice at his annual State of the State address Tuesday. The governor's address included proposed criminal justice reform and initiatives to combat the new federal tax reform bill that Cuomo called a federal assault on the state. "The state has made unprecedented progress," Cuomo, who is running for a third term this year, said. "The economy is stronger than ever. Crime is down statewide. We have more high school graduates. We have conserved more land than ever before. We have made histo…