New York has since taken valuable steps to decrease the possibility of wrongful conviction. But it needs to act on behalf of those who have, nonetheless, been declared guilty of crimes they did not commit – or who will be. In particular, it needs to join the majority of other states and acknowledge “actual innocence” […]
Supporters of Trawick rallied at One Police Plaza in Manhattan, demanding the two officers be fired. “Fire Thompson Davis for Kawaksi,” chanted a group of friends and family on Thursday. “The deputy commissioner of the NYPD Maldonado has recommended that these two officers Thompson and Davis keep their jobs,” said Jawanza Williams, director of organizing
What’s seen next on the bodycam video, which the NYPD didn’t release for more than a year-and-a-half after the incident, angers Jawanza Williams, the director of organizing at Vocal-NY, a citizens’ advocacy group that’s worked closely with the Trawick Family. “They failed to render aid,” Williams said, referring to images captured on video from both
PIX11: Officers in Kawaski Trawick’s death may not be disciplined: report Read More »
Inaction on this bill is a policy choice to deny wrongfully convicted people the chance to present evidence that shows their innocence. New York can do better than Justice Thomas’s vision of injustice. Read More
CONTACT: Jada Shannon, jada@vocal-ny.org At least 42 people have died under Department of Correction (DOC) custody since 2021, with more than half of these deaths occurring under Mayor Adams’ administration Advocates present list of demands calling for Mayor Adams to make decarceration the focus of city policy to make good on his promise to follow
In a letter to Eric Adams, we are again calling on him to address the growing crisis of Rikers Island and at the City’s other jails by moving forward with the following eight (8) steps: View full letter with detailed list of demands here.
DEMANDS TO END THE CRISIS OF RIKERS ISLAND Read More »
Rikers Island has been a hotbed for humanitarian violations for decades. Every year for the past decade, at least 10 people have died as a result of conditions on Rikers – whether it be abuse or neglect, both a result of years of racist and classist criminalization. New York City’s jails have been under federal
Receivership of Rikers: Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org Demands Released Ahead of the Thursday’s Federal Monitor Hearing on Rikers Receivership NEW YORK — As a federal judge considers shifting management responsibility of Rikers Island to a receiver, VOCAL-NY released a fact sheet with public education and demands for receivership that moves New York City closer to decarceration. “The mere existence of Rikers is a humanitarian violation,
Criminal justice advocates lauded the new poll as evidence Hochul should sign the bill. “This polling shows definitively what we’ve been saying for years: passing the Challenging Wrongful Convictions Act is both good policy and good politics,” Nick Encalada-Malinowski, civil rights campaign director at VOCAL-NY, said in a statement. “The legislature has done its part
City & State: Poll: New Yorkers support Wrongful Convictions Act Read More »
CONTACT: Mariah McGough, mariah@vocal-ny.org, 203 470 9979 MAYOR ADAMS’ BUDGET FAILS NEW YORKERS: VOCAL-NY WARNS OF DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES TO COME VOCAL-NY Joins Allies in Calling on Councilmembers to Vote NO on the Budget NEW YORK — Today, in response to a press conference announcing a handshake deal on Mayor Adams’ dangerous budget proposal, which includes a $2 billion
