Activists lobby for elder parole

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KINGSTON – State Senator Michelle Hinchey was not in her district office in Kingston Wednesday when local activists from the People’s Campaign for Parole Justice, Rise Up Kingston and Decarcerate Hudson Valley urged her, on a sidewalk outside her office on Broadway, to back legislation supporting early parole measures. 

Barbara Sarah attended the rally to support the state legislation to parole incarcerated seniors when prisons are known COVID-19 hotspots.

She noted former New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was furloughed to his home this week from a federal prison in Otisville after serving a year of a six-and-a-half-year term for corruption.

Sarah has a an eight-year pen-pal in Otisville, who has been incarcerated there for 30 years. “He deserves to get out of prison, and have a life. If Sheldon Silver can get out, why not my friend?” she said. “Nobody gets out of prison at 70 and commits a crime. They just want to have a family, friends and a life.”

Two bills, Elder Parole, which would allow prisoners 55 and older who have served at least 15 years to be evaluated for parole, and Fair and Timely Parole, which would provide more meaningful reviews for those parole eligible, are now being considered in Albany.

 “We’re here to make sure Michelle Hinchey knows that we are expecting her to stand strong on this,” said Callie Jayne, a rally organizer.




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