Criminal Justice
Politics
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams’ most significant cases
The federal prosecutor has toppled a lieutenant governor, taken on a New Jersey senator and felled a crypto wunderkind.
Criminal Justice
Personality
The most notable Southern District of New York prosecutors
From Morgenthau to Giuliani – egos abound.
Criminal Justice
Politics
Hochul declines to criticize Alvin Bragg after release of migrants accused of police assault
The governor has said the migrants who allegedly attacked officers should be deported.
Albany Agenda
Policy
Hochul’s proposal to close 5 more NY prisons rankles state GOP
The prison population has halved since 1999, and staffing is in freefall. But Republicans say the prisons should get more resources, not less.
Criminal Justice
Politics
City Council overrides mayor’s vetoes on two law enforcement bills
Projecting a united front, the council defied a public relations campaign by the mayor to cast both bills as endangering public safety.
Criminal Justice
Policy
Lawmakers debate bail reform and gun violence at public safety hearing
State legislators asked state law enforcement leaders about the impact of bail reform and how to keep guns out of children’s hands.
New York City Council
Politics
Adrienne Adams, faith leaders rally for How Many Stops Act
Speaker Adrienne Adams said she has no doubt that the council has the votes to override the mayor’s veto of the legislation.
NYPD
Policy
Adams’ vetoes set up council fights over public safety and solitary confinement bills
The City Council has vowed to override the vetoes of the How Many Stops Act and the solitary confinement ban.
Policy
Policy
De Blasio-era police reforms suffer under Adams
With recent cuts to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, Adams has set his sights on one of the last untouched police reforms of his predecessor.
News & Politics
Politics
Ahead of Christmas, Hochul grants pardons and commutations to 16 people
Advocates celebrated the clemencies but criticized a system that treats pardons and commutations as rare gifts bestowed upon extraordinary individuals instead of tools for systematic justice.
Policy
Policy
Council bills could set up Eric Adams’ next veto fights
The council passed a bill banning solitary confinement in city jails and legislation requiring police officers to report information about lower-level investigative encounters with civilians.
Rikers Island
Politics
Exclusive: New Rikers commission unveils list of members
The former New York City probation commissioner and a former deputy mayor will join many original members to get the closure plan back on track.
News & Politics
Politics
4 things to know about new DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie
Maginley-Liddie will take over for outgoing Department of Correction Commissioner Louis Molina at a time of crisis for the city’s jails.
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: The feds must take control of Rikers and then close it
Should the city jails be put into receivership or should Rikers be closed? The only correct answer is both.
News & Politics
Politics
Which city leaders are calling for a federal takeover of Rikers Island?
The city comptroller, public advocate, state attorney general, federal prosecutors and even former DOC commissioners all support federal receivership for the city’s jails.
News & Politics
Politics
As federal takeover of Rikers Island looms, Mayor Eric Adams insists jails conditions are improving
The mayor credited outgoing DOC commissioner Louis Molina with moving things in “the right direction.”
Criminal Justice
Opinion
Opinion: It’s time to reinvest the savings from the Less is More Act
Five communities impacted by New York’s historic parole rules said investments in housing and mental health treatment services should be a priority.
Opinion
Opinion
Opinion: The PLAN Act promotes fairness for formerly incarcerated people
The proposed legislation would bring greater transparency to the state licensing process, which is currently discouraging would-be nurses and social workers from entering their fields due to barriers relating to conviction history.
Courts
Policy
New York’s progressive chief judge joins with conservatives to expand DNA searches by law enforcement
In a 4-3 decision, Chief Judge Rowan Wilson ruled that the Commission on Forensic Science has the authority to allow law enforcement to search DNA databases to find partial DNA matches from relatives of potential suspects.
Politics
Politics