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Criminal Justice Reform

Politics
'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
Police & Fire
Hudson Valley Man Who Refused To Stop Nabbed For DWI, Police Say Hudson Valley Man Who Refused To Stop Nabbed For DWI, Police Say
Hudson Valley Man Who Refused To Stop Nabbed For DWI, Police Say A 41-year-old Hudson Valley man was nabbed by police for alleged DWI and refusing to stop when police spotted him using a cell phone while driving. Rockland County resident Cristhian Cruz-Rojas of Stony Point was arrested on Sunday, July 16 around 10 a.m. on North Liberty Drive in Stony Point. When an officer attempted to stop the vehicle Cruz-Rojas refused to pull over and continued to drive to his residence which was approximately two miles away, said Lt. Greg Becker, of the Stony Point Police. Once at his home, Cruz-Rojas attempted to run into his house to avoid arrest. A…

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Man Nabbed Using Fake ID Attempting To Cash $60K Check In Hudson Valley, Police Say Man Nabbed Using Fake ID Attempting To Cash $60K Check In Hudson Valley, Police Say
Man Nabbed Using Fake ID Attempting To Cash $60K Check In Hudson Valley, Police Say A Hudson Valley man was charged with attempted grand larceny after allegedly trying to cash a $60,000 check with a forged driver's license. The incident took place in Rockland County on Wednesday, July 5 at the TD Bank in Stony Point at 82 S. Liberty St. According to Lt. Greg Becker of the Stony Point Police, Jeremy Pierre, age 23, of New City, was charged with the crime following an investigation that found the driver's license was a fake. He was charged with attempted grand larceny and criminal possession of a forged instrument and released with an appearance ticket as per …

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by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
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…

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by Kathy Reakes
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
Police & Fire
Rockland Religious School Serial Burglar Nabbed By Police Rockland Religious School Serial Burglar Nabbed By Police
Rockland Religious School Serial Burglar Nabbed By Police A 34-year-old man has been arrested for a string of burglaries at religious schools that took place in Ramapo and Spring Valley. According to the Town of Ramapo Police, Aharon Greenfeld, city unknown, was arrested after the department's investigation division identified him as a suspect and shared the information with area police departments. Based on the information developed by Ramapo police, a Spring Valley Police officer recognized Greenfield in a taxi cab and stopped the cab and arrested the wanted man.  In Ramapo, Greenfield was charged with seven counts of burglary, grand larce…

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by Kathy Reakes
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
Politics
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…

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by Daily Voice
Politics
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…

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by Sam Barron