NY Legislation- Parole, Solitary: Man in sweats, sneakers, sunglasses, hat speaks on lawn with fake graves behind him.

NY Bills on Parole and Solitary the Focus of Overnight Demonstration

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ALBANY, N.Y. —A makeshift cemetery created outside the New York State Capitol building was the backdrop to a last-ditch overnight demonstration to push for three longshot criminal justice bills organizers helped write. Organizers for Release Aging People from Prison (RAPP) and the New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement (#Haltsolitary) had worked on three bills that focused on solitary confinement, paroling certain elderly inmates and changing parole criteria.

Rikers: Aerial view of complex on island.

Rikers: Island of Harm Reduction in State of ‘Forced Detox’

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Waiting to be taken to Dutchess County Jail for the last time, Matthew Herring knew from experience he needed something that would ease the pain to come. The 24-year-old from Fishkill, N.Y., anticipated an excruciating detox from heroin. So he grabbed a handful of Suboxone pills.

reentry, trauma, Rikers Woman in pink hat, turtleneck speaks on steps of government building, surrounded by men in dark suits, T-shirts, holding banners.

Provide Better Reentry, Don’t Just Close Rikers, Advocates Urge

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Advocates and activists who have been pushing to close Rikers want to make substantive policy changes for incarcerated youth.
“It’s not enough to close Rikers,” said Iesha Sekou, CEO of nonprofit Street Corner Resources, which works with young people. “We have to make sure young people have a real chance at rehabilitation.”