Tell New York State Senate: Pass Discovery Legislation and the Bail Elimination Act

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    Tell New York State Senate: Pass Discovery Legislation and the Bail Elimination Act

    This year we have the opportunity to bring about progressive criminal justice reform in New York’s legislative session that could drastically improve the experiences Black people have with the criminal legal system. For the first time in years Democrats control New York’s State Senate--this gives us the power to pass much-needed bail and discovery legislation.

    We must demand that New York's State Senate pass the bail and discovery legislation that focuses on decarceration and protects Black, and poor communities, that are targeted by mass incarceration.

    New York needs speedy discovery. Unlike most of the country, prosecutors and police are not required to provide copies of police reports and other crucial documents, information, or evidence related to their case to people facing criminal allegations or their attorneys until the trial begins. This unfair law fuels mass incarceration, case delays, and wrongful convictions. It prevents people facing criminal accusations from making informed decisions about plea offers, forcing many to choose between pleading guilty or suffering the well-documented brutality of jail while fighting the charges against them without access to crucial evidence.

    New Yorker's also need the Bail reform that protects the presumption of innocence, decarcerates jails across the state, and guarantees pretrial freedom. That is why we need to pass the Bail Elimination Act this legislative session. No one should be in jail as they await trial simply because they can afford to buy their freedom. 

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    This petition will be delivered to New York State Senators:

    Here is the Petition:
    Dear New York State Senators, 

    We urge you to pass the bail elimination act and discovery legislation this session, before budget hearings begin. This year New York has the opportunity to bring about progressive criminal justice reform that could drastically improve the experiences Black people have with the criminal legal system.

    New York needs speedy discovery. The current discovery law prevents people from making informed decisions about their cases because prosecutors and police are not required to release all the evidence they have. This unfair law fuels mass incarceration, case delays, and wrongful convictions. 

    New Yorker's also deserve true bail reform that will protect Black, and poor communities, that are targeted by mass incarceration. That's why we're urging you to pass the Bail Elimination Act.