FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 7, 2025

Contact: Trip Eggert, media@vera.org

NEW YORK – In response to the adopted New York state budget for fiscal year 2026, Alana Sivin, director of the Greater Justice New York initiative at the Vera Institute of Justice, issued the following statement:

“Despite much budget negotiation, the governor and legislature have failed to come to consensus on the Earned Time Act, a commonsense and evidence-based policy that would help address the crisis of violence, neglect, and disinvestment that plagues New York State’s prisons. Now, in the regular session, New York must pass the Earned Time Act and the Second Look Act to address these problems, bolster safety, and provide opportunity.

“New York unjustifiably limits who can earn time off their sentence and lags behind other states in how much time off people can earn by capping it at 14 percent of their sentence—hardly a meaningful incentive to change behind bars. The Earned Time Act (S342 / A1085) will allow people who have demonstrated rehabilitation to earn early release from incarceration by increasing the amount of “good time” (time taken off a prison term for good behavior) and “merit time” (time taken off a prison term for program participation) a person can earn. This will lower the prison population, reduce recidivism, and improve safety behind bars.

“The Second Look Act (S158 / A1283) will allow incarcerated people to petition a judge for resentencing and possible release after serving a significant period of time. When evaluating these petitions, judges are required to consider many factors, including demonstrated rehabilitation while in prison, victim statements, and the nature of the underlying offense. The Earned Time Act will help the Second Look Act work even more effectively by reducing the number of people in need of sentence reconsideration, making caseloads manageable for prosecutors.

“Expanding incentives for rehabilitation and good behavior will improve relationships between correctional professionals and incarcerated people and subject fewer incarcerated people to violent interactions. This is critical in the wake of the callous murders of Robert Brooks and Messiah Nantwi, as well as a wildcat strike prompted by corrections professionals’ concerns about staffing and safety—a strike which ultimately led to the deaths of several other incarcerated people.

“We call on the governor and the legislature to pass the Earned Time Act and the Second Look Act before this legislative session ends to address the ongoing crisis in New York’s prisons. Our elected officials must pass these measures to continue moving this great state forward, in the interest of safety in our prisons and justice in our communities.”

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About the Vera Institute of Justice: The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. Vera’s headquarters is in Brooklyn, New York, with offices in Washington, DC, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit vera.org.