Organizations
Prison Action Network
Prison Action Network seeks to unite people who are incarcerated in NYS, people who have a loved one in a NYS prison, and people who care about the impact incarceration has upon our society.
It Could Happen to You
Non-Profit Organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Falsely Accused
Publications
A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual
A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual (JLM) is a handbook of legal rights and procedures designed for use by people in prison.
The Use of Criminal History Records in College Admissions Reconsidered
The Center for Community Alternatives has recently published “The Use of Criminal History Records in College Admissions Reconsidered”. Their research shows that a majority of colleges and universities now collect criminal history information as part of the college admissions procedures. The CCA collaborated with the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers. A survey was done and it found that a broad array of convictions, including convictions for relatively minor offenses are viewed as negative factors in the context of admissions decision-making. CCA offers a series of recommendations designed to make admissions processes fairer and more evidence-based.
Articles
Albany’s new police beats strive to ‘re-connect’
Author: Dennis Yusko
Published: January 19, 2011
Source: Times Union, Section B pg 1
Excerpt: Police Chief Steven Krokoff released a map of the 18 neighborhood zones and the police officers assigned to them. To view a copy of the map, visit the Crime Confidential blog here. The sergeants and officers will work out of the Center and South Stations, and patrol the beats on bicycle or foot.
Court to weigh pedophile parental visits Court of Appeals expected to decide if teacher imprisoned for molesting boys can see his child
Author: Robert Gavin
Published: April 26, 2011
Source: Times Union
Excerpt: Convicted pedophile Christopher Culver is serving 12 years in state prison for sexually molesting eight young boys in a Clifton Park classroom. But the disgraced ex-teacher did not think that’s any reason to keep his young daughter from visiting him in the jailhouse — and a state appeals court agreed with him.
Legislation
DNA Database Deal Reached in Albany
Publication: The New York Times
Author: John Eligon
Date: March 14, 2012
Excerpt: ALBANY – State lawmakers have agreed on a bill to make New York’s DNA database among the most expansive in the country, requiring people convicted of any crime to give samples, according to Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, a Brooklyn Democrat.
Analysis of Rockefeller Drug Law Reform Bill
Published by the Correctional Association of New York, this document lists the pros and cons of the Rockefeller Drug Law reform bill.
Lawmakers call for domestic violence offender registry
The division shall establish and maintain a file of domestic violence offenders required to register with specific information such as name, aliases used, date of birth, a photograph and set of fingerprints as well as other information deemed pertinent by the division.
Criminal Justice Laws Strengthened
Author: Senator James L. Seward
Published: February 22, 2011
About: This article examines recently passed senate bills which implement harsher criminal penalties for negligent homicides and sex offenses. As well as an additional bill passed which grants employers greater access to prospective employees criminal records.
S338-2011: Relates to controlled substances and indeterminate sentences; to the expansion of merit time; repeale
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the correction law, chapter 738 of the laws of 2004 amending the correction law and other laws relating to controlled substances and indeterminate sentences, the executive law, in relation to merit time, and to repeal section 803-b of the correction law relating to limited credit time allowances PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To expand eligibility in the merit time allowance program.
S1508-2011: Authorizes a sentence of conditional discharge pending completion of a substance abuse treatment program for first and second time drug possessors
Sponsor: Senator Montgomery
An act to amend the executive law, the criminal procedure law and the penal law, in relation to establishing substance abuse treatment alternatives for certain offenders PURPOSE: To provide the sentencing option of drug treatment to judges who must sentence certain non-violent, low-level drug offenders.
S5473-2011: Relates to enforcement of orders of child support against inmates
Sponsor: Senator Montgomery
PURPOSE:
This bill would enable people residing in a state correctional facility to be informed of their right to modify an existing child support order pursuant to Chapter 182 of the Laws of 2010. In addition and with the approval of the court, individuals released from prison may be granted up to 180 days before they begin to fulfill their child support obligations.
