On June 4th, the New York State Legislature passed S.8944/A.10024, which removes certain statutory minimum sentences when all parties and the court agree, as part of a plea deal. Insha Rahman, president of the Vera Institute of Justice, issued the following statement:

“New York’s current sentencing laws are a product of a bygone tough-on-crime era that put punishment over true accountability. Today, in 2026, we know so much more about what works to deliver safety and accountability—and justice. Giving the courts discretion to avoid some mandatory minimum prison sentences, when all parties have agreed, allows prosecutors and judges to consider each case on the individualized circumstances of the crime. Instead of seeking amends through incarceration as the only option, an individual can be held accountable through treatment, programs, and community-based interventions. The best investment in safety is giving individuals the tools to turn their lives around and prevent future crime.

"For years, New Yorkers have been asking their legislature to address extreme sentences. We applaud Assemblymember Gabriella Romero and Senator Zellnor Myrie for championing this bill along with Speaker Carl Heastie and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for bringing this commonsense reform to a vote. We also commend the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York, the Office of Court Administration, Legal Aid Society, and the Center for Community Alternatives for their support. We look forward to continuing to work together on more change to our outdated sentencing laws.”

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 justice 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.