What to look for in criminal justice reform in New York in 2020
Criminal justice reform had a banner year in New York State. With Democrats snagging the State Senate and Assembly, they were able to push major reforms at a state level. While bail and discovery reform are set to take effect on Jan. 1, many other significant measures did not pass in 2019 and are still on the table for 2020’s legislative session in Albany.
Here are 15 of the biggest legislative battles around criminal justice reform that we expect to see in 2020.
Elder parole
This bill would make incarcerated people 55 years old immediately eligible for parole if they have served at least 15 years in prison — no matter what their sentence is. It did not come to a vote in either chamber of the state legislature during the 2019 legislative session.