n a recent declaration Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that to curtail the spread of the new coronavirus in New York’s prisons, 300 non-violent elderly inmates with at least five preexisting conditions will be released from prison early. This comes as the number of coronavirus cases in New York State soars over 30,000, prompting a serious call to action. Unfortunately, this comes as the Rikers Island prison saw a massive outbreak in the new coronavirus, costing one Corrections Officer his life.
You should note, however, that those eligible for early release must not have been convicted of a violent offense, or of sexual assault in any form. Of the move, in a recent news conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “We want to identify anyone in those categories and get them released immediately. It is a very complicated dynamic, it’s one that we’ve literally never dealt with before. I’m listening to all the input … But I want to make very clear that I’m making the ultimate decisions, taking in the advice from all these different sources and doing what I think is the right thing for this city.”
Though it is hard to say what the future holds, one can only imagine that we will be seeing more and more inmates released early to help stymie the spread of the virus, especially as states across the country are making similar moves, particularly in the tri-state area. As we learn more, you can rest assured we will keep you updated.
Kevin T. Conway has over 30 years of experience as a Spring Valley criminal attorney handling DUI, DWI, traffic violations, violent crimes, sex crimes, illegal gun possession, shoplifting, and juvenile crimes. Attorney Conway is also experienced in commercial law matters, zoning law, and estate planning. If you need a Rockland County criminal lawyer, contact our Spring Valley office for a free consultation.
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