This is an excerpt of the Governor's speech :
And we must continue to pass smart criminal justice reforms. Let's start by expanding the DNA database to include all convicted criminals. We already abolished parole for all violent criminals and witnessed crime rates plunge. Let's abolish parole FOR ALL CONVICTED FELONS. Let's help women and children by further improving our domestic violence laws by ensuring any history of violence is taken into account when determining bail for accused abusers by lengthening orders of protection and by extending the domestic violence laws to protect unmarried couples living together."


ON A POSITIVE NOTE:
"And once and for all, let's reconcile our differences and reform the failed Rockefeller Drug Laws. Let's begin the process of court reform as Chief Judge Kaye has proposed."

:mad: Pataki did away with educational programs thus taking away incentives for any rehab because as far as he's concerned, lock em up and throw away the key! He has the Parole Board in his hip pocket (most on the Board are those he appointed) and whenever an inmate goes before the Board, he gets hit with 2 + 2 stating that it's the "nature of the crime." The "nature of the crime" will NEVER go away! If a inmate who has no behavior/discipline problems, no tickets, attended all required programs and has sincerely turned his life around, why is he getting hit with 2 + 2 every time he goes before the Board? If he's served his maximum sentence and gets hit with 2 + 2, a guy doing 12 to 25 may end up doing 30 or more years plus Pataki wants to do away with parole for ALL FELONS!!! Inmates are HUMAN BEINGS, yet on the other side of the wall, they are treated like animals and it's appalling!
Why is this happening?
Answer is: More prisoners = more jobs in various sectors and we taxpayers are footing the bill! Pataki has GOT to GO!
I could say a lot more about this - thanks for letting me vent!

:argh :argh :argh

i could've sworn that i heard on the news this morning that pataki will be releasing thousands of inmates???

this man and his leaders' way of thinking makes no sense :mad:

There's an article today in the NY Post. I'm trying to get it on the online version to post it.

PATAKI SET TO $PRING INMATES

By KENNETH LOVETT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FREE BIRD:
Gov. Pataki is proposing early release for some inmates who have no criminal history of violence and are model inmates as a way to alleviate the prison population and save money.

January 31, 2003 -- ALBANY - Gov. Pataki is offering a get-out-of-jail-early card for up to 1,300 inmates, including serious drug offenders, officials said yesterday.
Pataki's plan would allow early release throughout the next year for inmates who have no criminal history of violence and clean records behind bars.

Some top Republican lawmakers didn't rush to embrace the plan, which needs legislative approval, and said they would await the details.

"We'll take a look at it. If it's a problem, we don't do it," said state Sen. Dale Volker (R-Buffalo).

In some cases, the plan also calls for the head of the Correction Department, not the Parole Division, to determine when the inmates are released, though they'd still be subject to parole supervision.

"As a result, the department [of correction] will be able to phase out additional beds currently in use in the prison system," according to Pataki's budget.

The surprising proposal comes weeks after the normally tough-on-crime Pataki reiterated his call to end parole for all felons.

Assembly Corrections Committee Chairman Jeffrion Aubry, a Democrat, said the plan is "somewhat out of character" for Pataki, but added the state's deficit "makes nothing a surprise."

With still no deal on reforming drug laws, lawmakers and advocates say Pataki appears to be finding a way to help those serving long sentences under the tough laws.

Under the plan, A-1 drug offenders - those sentenced 15 years to life for selling 2 ounces or possessing 4 ounces of drugs - would be eligible for early release after serving at least two-thirds of their sentence.

The proposal also extends who is eligible for an early-release program based on participation in work and education programs behind bars. Currently, only those serving a minimum sentence of six years or less are eligible. That would be expanded to eight years or less.

Pataki budget officials couldn't say how much the changes would save the state.

But estimates are that an anticipated 1,900-inmate drop in the prison population, including the 1,300 nonviolent felons, would save the state $28.7 million.

The prison population reached a high of 71,472 in 1999 before dropping to its current level of just under 67,000.

Val,

Thanks for posting that information!

Mimi

jnv512


Thanks. oh well Bryan doesnt fit into pataki's catagory:( :( :(

Emilio doesn't either...:(

Eddie does in most respects...except he has a violent prior in NJ...but no priors at all in NY.
I wonder if he qualifies... I won't get excited, like I ever get excited or believe such prospects could exist for us. Of course Eddie mentioned this to me w/crazy excitement already as if this is definitely getting him out by his merit board hearing. I hate when he gets himself TOO postiive about shit like that-ya know?

whenever an inmate goes before the Board, he gets hit with 2 + 2 stating that it's the "nature of the crime." The "nature of the crime" will NEVER go away! If a inmate who has no behavior/discipline problems, no tickets, attended all required programs and has sincerely turned his life around, why is he getting hit with 2 + 2 every time he goes before the Board? If he's served his maximum sentence and gets hit with 2 + 2, a guy doing 12 to 25 may end up doing 30 or more years "

hello
well, my man is doing 12- 25 right now and he has been there already almost 14. He was hit with 2 years last year at his first parole hearing and he is a model inmate and done everything and he was told just that. "nature of the crime"
he has a CR date for 2006 so they can not keep him forever unless he messes up really badly. He has been good almost his entire bid and has no major tickets.
he has a friend who was also in his shoes and was told the same thing by the parole board. His friend Appealed it and made a good arguement and it was overturned by Albany courts. Angel said that now, that will set a president, where you can not just tell them "nature of the crime" we are hoping he comes home next year. but you never know....

we hope for the best

Is there anyone we can write to get our loved ones up for atleast consideration. My dad has been in the fed's now on a drug charge for the last ten years and has five more to go. I think it's just ridiculous for people to spend these long amounts of time in prison for drug crimes. I really wish they would do something with the rockefeller law soon. My dad has already missed many a birthdays, graduations, even the birth of his first grandchild. Good luck to you all with this.

Well I just found out on my visit with my son's father this past weekend that he may qualify for this earl release under Pataki's plan. He was sentenced 2-6 on his first drug charge and has no violent felonies. I hope and pray this comes through for him. I really want him home for the sake of our son. Not to mention I really need a break from this single parenting thing. My fingers are crossed.