(ACROSS NEW YORK STATE) – As part of the Communities Not Cages Campaign, along with the Center For Community Alternatives, Labor Leaders joined with Lawmakers, families separated from incarcerated loved ones, a former Prison Commissioner and Civil Rights Organizations at individual rallies held in six locations across New York State to publicly call for the passage of sentencing reform during the 2025 Legislative Session, specifically the Second Look Act, Earned Time Act and Marvin Mayfield Act.

The rallies were held in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Albany, Buffalo and Rochester with speakers who underscored the ways that these reforms advance both safety and justice, allow Judges to consider the individual factors in a case and promote rehabilitation rather than perpetual punishment. 

The Second Look Act would allow Judges to review and reconsider excessive sentences.

Under current sentencing laws, incarcerated people have no opportunity to demonstrate to a Judge that they have transformed while incarcerated or to seek a reconsideration of their sentences based on changes in law and norms. 

The Earned Time Act would strengthen and expand “Good Time” and “Merit Time” Laws to increase the ability of incarcerated people to earn time off their sentences, supporting rehabilitative efforts in State Prisons.

The Marvin Mayfield Act would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, allowing Judges to consider the individual factors and mitigating circumstances in a case and addressing the outsize power of prosecutors to coerce plea deals. 

The reforms have extensive support from Judges - including the Chief Judge of New York State, Law Enforcement, the American Bar Association, dozens of Labor Unions, business, and over 200 Civil Rights, Legal and Community Organizations, the two groups said. 

And recent polling has found 74% of New Yorkers support the Earned Time Act, while 68% of New Yorkers support the Second Look Act, they added. 

Sam Capitano, who serves as President of Buffalo Laborers Local 210 and as Business Manager at Upstate New York Laborers' District Council, and Henry Garrido, the Executive Director of American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) District Council 37, spoke at two of the news conferences:

Said Capitano: “As a Union that represents thousands in the Buffalo and Western New York area, and that encourages and facilitates the hiring of people who have been incarcerated, Laborers’ Local (210) and the New York State Laborers are calling on the New York State Legislature to pass The Earned Time Act this session.  This legislation will help many formerly incarcerated people access living wage jobs, contribute to their local economies and participate in their communities.  We must recognize that training and secure employment are a more effective public safety strategy than incarceration.  The stability of a good-paying job helps people contribute to their communities and take care of their families.  That is why Earned Time programming in other states has resulted in a notable reduction in recidivism.  Many of our Union Members have experienced incarceration and I’ve seen firsthand how training and job opportunities can help them successfully rejoin the workforce upon their release.  Expanding access to career-preparing opportunities behind bars will create more of these success stories after, providing incarcerated people hope upon release.”

Garrido said: “In the (1990s), New York State slashed funding for programs for incarcerated people and dramatically limited the time people could earn off their sentences, despite the proven benefits of educational and other programming in prisons.  As a result, tens of thousands of New Yorkers are serving excessively long sentences in prison without access to educational or vocational programs or opportunities to have their sentences revisited.  Many of these New Yorkers are our family members, friends and loved ones.  We know that our Unions are stronger and our communities benefit when we expand opportunities for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers to rejoin the workforce in jobs that pay a living wage and play a vital role in our communities.  We call for our elected leaders to pass the Earned Time Act, Second Look Act and Marvin Mayfield Act.”

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News Conference Photo Courtesy Of New York State Assemblyman Demond Meeks’ Facebook Page.