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Criminal Justice Reform

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'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature 'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature
'Jury Of Our Peers Act' Allowing Convicted Felons To Serve On Juries Passes NY Legislature New Yorkers with felony convictions could soon serve on court juries after state lawmakers passed legislation reversing the lifetime ban on such service. The New York State Assembly on Friday, June 7, passed the “Jury of Our Peers Act,” which would allow those convicted of felonies to serve on New York juries once they are released from prison or have otherwise satisfied all of their sentencing requirements. Advocates say the move will help rectify an underrepresentation of minorities on juries. “Black New Yorkers have been systematically denied the right to serve on juries as they are dis…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
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 …

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
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…

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by Zak Failla
News
Furor Erupts Over Killing Of Witness Who Intervened In MS-13 Long Island Assault Furor Erupts Over Killing Of Witness Who Intervened In MS-13 Long Island Assault
Furor Erupts Over Killing Of Witness Who Intervened In MS-13 Long Island Assault A 36-year-old man who was found dead earlier this week in a Long Island residence was scheduled to testify against MS-13 gang members, authorities said. Wilmer Maldonado Rodriguez, who was allegedly attacked by nine members of the gang in 2018 when he intervened from them intimidating two teenagers, was found dead. Rodriguez was scheduled to testify against the gang members, who were arrested due to his interference in the 2018 assault. He was found dead on Sunday, Feb. 2, State Police said. His body was discovered behind an abandoned home in New Cassel on Broadway. Reportedly, gang member…

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by Zak Failla
News
301 Suffolk Inmates Released After NY State Bail Reform Takes Effect, Sheriff Says 301 Suffolk Inmates Released After NY State Bail Reform Takes Effect, Sheriff Says
301 Suffolk Inmates Released After NY State Bail Reform Takes Effect, Sheriff Says Hundreds of inmates on Long Island are back on the street due to the state’s new Bail Reform Legislation, which ended cash bail for all misdemeanor and non-violent felony offenders in New York. The new reform, which took effect as of Wednesday, Jan. 1, 301 inmates in Suffolk County were released by the courts, according to the Sheriff’s Office. In the past, those inmates would have been held on bail or bond, depending on the severity of the crime and the inmates’ criminal histories. “Judges used to have some discretion on whether or not an individual should be held on bail,” Sheriff Errol T…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
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…

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by Zak Failla