There is presently a bill in both the NYS Senate (S 425 Lavalle) and Assembly (A 1188 Thiele). This bill would extend the number of months from twenty-four to sixty as the time within which the parole board must set for reconsideration of a denied application for parole. 

Currently when parole is denied, the board has the discretion to set the date for reconsideration for parole for any date within two years of the denial of parole. In many cases, especially those involving heinous acts of violence against another, parole will be denied numerous times.  However, each time an inmate is considered for parole, the victim and his/her family is required to relive the horror of the crime for the sake of impressing upon the Parole Board the inappropriateness of early release. In these cases, when the board is confident that their opinion regarding parole release will not be changed by anything that can transpire within the next five years, the board should have the discretion to set the date for reconsideration of its denial of parole for any date within those five years. This would still allow for an earlier reconsideration if warranted, yet also give the victim and his/her family a greater period of time of peace before the next parole consideration.

Additionally, this bill could result in some savings to the State by not requiring parole considerations that are unnecessary.

This is an issue I feel strongly about as my friend Leah Hirschel was murdered a year ago. Her husband has been accused of her murder, has been indicted, and is in jail awaiting trail. I have faith that justice will be done and her murderer will spend the rest of his life behind bars.  I am asking for you to take a few minutes to read and sign this petition in support of this reform and forward it on to others who may also want to show their support. Please think about the multitude of victims, families, and friends who must currently relive the horror of the crimes committed every two years in order to ensure the violent offender serves the appropriate sentence.

Even if you do not reside in NYS please show your support by signing this petition and forwarding on to others. Your name will be added to the petition which will show the volume of people who support this movement. Additionally, for NYS residents, please consider also taking a few minutes to call your elected representative to let them know of your support for S 425 Lavalle and A 1188 Thiele.