The #LessIsMoreNY Act was introduced in 2018, and more than 300 organizations joined with district attorneys, sheriffs, and former correctional officials to push for its passage. After years of persistent advocacy throughout New York, the state assembly and state senate passed the bill in June 2021. On September 17, 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul signed it into law.
A major provision of the #LessIsMoreNY Act—the component limiting re-incarceration for technical violations—went into effect immediately when Governor Hochul signed the bill and announced that hundreds of people imprisoned at the Rikers Island jail complex for such noncriminal parole violations would be released immediately. The rest of the new law takes effect on March 1, with the exception of two provisions.
This report addresses the following:
• A summary of the main provisions of the Less Is More Act
• Progress and challenges with respect to implementation so far
• Next steps and recommendations
