Purposed Merit Time Legislation

Hon. Michael F. Nozzolio
Chairman, Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee
Room 409, Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 14227

Dear Senator Nozzolio:

This is a petition in support of S1701, sponsored by New York State Senators Montgomery, Dilan, Duane, Parker, Sampson, and M. Smith.

We, the undersigned, are in complete support of the above mentioned bill and its being placed on the agenda for a Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee vote.

We, the undersigned, would greatly appreciate this bill receiving serious attention and consideration. The New York State Department of Correctional Services and the facilities operated by it can no longer be viewed as a source of rehabilitative assistance for those incarcerated but rather a cage to temporarily warehouse them. Measures need to be creatively constructed that allow the Department of Correctional Services and its representatives to better assist inmates while controlling their behavior by offering meaningful incentives.

Social quandaries are not permanently solved and victims are not completely protected unless a balance is achieved. As the bill states, Merit time is the most reasonable approach for combining the concern for public safety from released prisoners with the need for finding new space to combat violent crime while resources are severely limited. The People of New York, including the families of those currently incarcerated as well as the victims, count on you for this balance.

We respectfully request that you place the bill on the committee agenda immediately.