What We Do and Why It’s Important
We bring home people who have been in prison for extraordinarily long times—30 years, on average—by getting governors, judges, district attorneys, and other powerful decision-makers to take a second look at their sentences through underutilized procedures.
With roughly 7,500 people—disproportionately Black and Latino—serving life and extreme long-term sentences, New York ranks among the most punitive states in the nation. Many of the 7,500 were teenagers when they were sentenced and are now in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s. We are the only organization dedicated to securing a “second look” for these individuals in New York.
Court records are replete with judges sentencing people convicted of unquestionably serious crimes to decades in prison while proclaiming that the person before them is irredeemable. And yet, judges are no better than anyone else at predicting the future. There are countless examples of people in prison transforming in stark contrast to these judicial prognostications. When we bring attention to these injustices, individuals are often set free and outdated perspectives and policies change. Through this individual and structural work, we chip away at the crisis of mass incarceration that has been fueled by decades of massive sentences unknown to any other western democracy.
Our project was born out of a need to expand the trailblazing work begun by professors and students at CUNY Law’s Defenders Clinic to assist people sentenced to perish in prison, whether innocent or guilty. While there are organizations dedicated to exonerating people, there are no other New York institutions dedicated to reducing sentences of people who do not claim innocence but have amassed substantial records of transformation and growth while in prison.
As news spread about the clinic securing people’s release, requests for help skyrocketed. We formed our small but mighty team of attorneys and former clients who provide invaluable insights on the carceral system to policymakers, educators, students, and the general public. With the support of foundations and donors, we seek to continue to expand our capacity to meet the extraordinary level of need.
- Worked with approximately 165 people condemned to interminable prison sentences, 78 of whom have now come home against all odds.
- Revived the practice of executive clemency in New York. Prior to 2015, clemency was virtually nonexistent. Our advocacy has led to the creation of a clemency unit within the Governor’s office dedicated to providing ongoing review of executive clemency applications. We have also expanded the use of medical parole—a.k.a. compassionate release—in New York so that people with terminal illnesses can die with dignity outside of the confines of prison, and we have forged new ways of securing resentencing from prosecutors and judges.
- Received more than 3,100 requests for assistance from people inside and their loved ones—clear evidence of the need for “second look” advocacy. Additional funding would allow us to expand our capacity to assist more people and continue our pursuit of making the “second look” a reality for all, whether innocent or guilty.
If you believe in this work, please consider supporting us so that we can continue to take on new cases.
