In this issue:
Community Groups Send a Recommendation to Governor Cuomo on Bail Reform
December 12 in Hartford: Reform in Connecticut
Katal Co-hosts Community Forum About Brooklyn DA
community groups send a recommendation to governor cuomo on bail reform
(Photo from Katal’s community conversation on bail reform in Albany on November 6, 2017)
As momentum continues to build for bail reform in New York, Katal worked with over 100 statewide and regional community groups and advocacy and public defense organizations to develop and send a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo recommending how to achieve bail reform in the state. The need for bail reform in New York is clear: thousands of people are being detained every year in jails simply because they cannot afford to buy their freedom, contributing to profound racial disparities in the state’s justice system. Governor Cuomo has repeatedly expressed his interest in bail reform, including in his last two state of the state addresses. Advocates share an interest in sensible, effective reform. Together, we outlined key principles and guidelines to achieve real bail reform in New York.
Check out the letter here, and read our press release, here.
december 12 in hartford: reform in connecticut
Over the last 20 years, Connecticut has become a national leader in criminal justice reform. These reforms — the result of vigorous community led campaigns advancing smart policy making — have resulted in prison closings, a double-digit percentage decrease in prison populations, increased pardon approval and fewer probation violations resulting in re-incarceration.
But mass incarceration and the war on drugs still endure. To truly achieve just, equitable outcomes for health and safety in every community in Connecticut, much more needs to be done.
Join us on Tuesday, December 12 at the Artists Collective in Hartford, CT to hear organizers, researchers, policy makers and more discuss the history and future of criminal justice reform in Connecticut. You can register for this free event here.
If you have questions, or would like to become a sponsor or partner, please contact Melody Lee at melody@katalcenter.org.
katal co-hosts community forum about brooklyn da
Eric Gonzalez won the general election last week, and he can now drop the “acting” before his title of Brooklyn District Attorney. Now that he has been elected to this powerful position, it’s time for him to show Brooklyn that he’s serious about working to end mass incarceration.
On Monday, November 20 at 6:30pm, Katal is co-sponsoring a community forum with Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez together with faith groups, VOCAL-NY, #GetOrganizedBK and others to ask him to publicly commit to reforms that will facilitate the closure of the jail complex on Rikers Island, end broken windows policing, and protect our immigrant neighbors. We hope you’ll join us at Congregation Beth Elohim on Monday evening. RSVP here.
