FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 6, 2019
Contact: Melissa Mansfield (mmansfield@skdknick.com) 518.339.7769
STATEMENT FROM NEW YORKERS UNITED FOR JUSTICE CHIEF STRATEGIST KHALIL A. CUMBERBATCH ON NY GOP SENATE OUT OF STEP STANCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
“The fact of the matter is that New York is embarrassingly far behind even the most conservative states in reforming our broken criminal justice system. In state after state, and even in Congress, Republicans and Democrats have come together to advance long-overdue reforms on everything from pretrial reforms, sentencing, and parole to incarceration, diversion, and reentry. If the federal government – including conservative lawmakers like Mike Lee, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and the Freedom Caucus – as well as numerous Republican governors can have open minds and embrace reform, surely any reasonable conservatives in New York will as well. We hope that leaders of both parties will prioritize reforming the system and engage in thoughtful discussions to advance reform this year, much like they did in 2017 when they helped pass Raise the Age.
“The facts are clear: criminal justice reform means community safety and fairness. It also means redemption and second chances; saving taxpayer dollars and ensuring that law enforcement can adequately apply their resources to better protect public safety. That’s why criminal justice reform is a bipartisan issue, and we see that example play out over and over again with legislation passed in states across the country year after year.
“New Yorkers United for Justice won’t let the facts be obscured by a campaign of fear-mongering and misinformation orchestrated by some prosecutors and for-profit businesses that have a vested interest in perpetuating a broken system. It is time for our elected leaders to enact common sense reforms because our communities and families deserve better and public safety demands it.”
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